Final answer:
The Supreme Court reverses earlier decisions due to changes in public opinion, Court composition, and legal interpretation, despite the principle of stare decisis allowing for precedent adherence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court sometimes reverses its earlier decisions for several reasons including shifts in public opinion, changes in the Court's composition, and evolving interpretations of the law. While the lifetime tenure of justices is intended to insulate the Court from political pressure, the Court may still be influenced by public attitudes, especially when cases are highly publicized. Furthermore, the legal doctrine of stare decisis, which emphasizes the importance of precedent, is not inflexible, allowing for reversals when justified. Landmark cases such as Brown v. Board of Education demonstrate how shifts in societal values and the composition of the Court can lead to the overturning of established precedents like Plessy v. Ferguson.