ascertain good policy. the objective is to ascertain what the law requires. you were urged to consider the effects of the court s actions on people s lives. there again, insofar as it relates to policy, no the really the job of the courts. you were admonished that you must, quote, be able to see the real people at the other end of the court s rulings like americans who are one supreme court decision away from losing their health insurance or one court decision away from the ability to make their own health care choices. and the list goes on and on. that type of judicial philosophy would have you step into the role of policymaker and decide what the law should be rather than what the law is. you also were quoted a couple of times yesterday, quote ordinary paraphrased or otherwise referenced, federalist 780 in which alexander hamilton refers to the difference between will