supreme court and civil justice

fascinating article in the new york times this weekend about the possibility of the Supreme Court getting involved in the gay marriage debate. Discusses the political and social ramifications of certain decisions (how a decision can positively or negatively affect a society's attitude towards a particular issue). Interesting to hear that Ruth Bader Ginsberg thought Roe v. Wade was poorly timed--that it came too early for people to swallow and has a consequence has set the pro-choice movement back. That the supreme court, by siding in favor of gay marriage, could tip social acceptance of it back significantly and make the human rights issue of it more problematic. Brings up all kinds of questions of what the role of the court is in furthering social justice is, especially as it regards moral questions of deep public schism...and how the court can operate most effectively in bringing about these changes, that involve a fundamental overhaul of societal attitudes.