Final answer:
Interest groups influence public policy through the courts by filing lawsuits, submitting amicus curiae briefs, and influencing judicial appointments. These methods allow them to participate in the legal process and shape legal decisions in their favor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interest groups engage in various activities to affect public policy through the courts. Here are three such activities:
- Litigation: Interest groups often file lawsuits in order to change laws or challenge public policies that they believe are unconstitutional or unjust. A prominent instance is Brown vs. The Board of Education, where the NAACP filed suit leading to desegregation of public schools.
- Amicus Curiae Briefs: Interest groups submit amicus curiae briefs to present legal arguments and influence the judiciary's decisions, hoping the court will rule in their favor on specific cases. An example includes amicus briefs filed by the Human Rights Campaign in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges.
- Influencing Judicial Appointments: By lobbying for or against certain judicial appointments, interest groups try to influence the composition of the judiciary, which can have long-term effects on public policy decisions.
These methods are crucial as they allow interest groups to directly engage with the judicial process and shape policies that align with their goals and values.