The Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges may have been influenced by its own previous rulings, particularly in United States v. Windsor. The Court cited federal court decisions on same-sex marriage as support for its own conclusion, without acknowledging its role in shaping those decisions. This pattern of influencing legal developments and then using them to justify further decisions is common in the Court's behavior. The Court often takes steps to maintain its public legitimacy, especially when dealing with divisive issues.