The Supreme Court of India has been called “the most powerful court in the world” for its wide jurisdiction, its expansive understanding of its own powers, and the billion plus people under its authority. It has also attracted its share of controversy. Critics have disputed its claim to being a “people’s court” serving the interests of the common person. Scholars and even judges have leveled claims of corruption and overreaching against the Court. And observers lament the backlog of cases and the disproportionate influence of the most elite (and expensive) members of the Supreme Court bar. In this talk, William Hubbard shows how an empirical approach to studying the Court offers new insights into the controversies, generating lessons for reformers in India and even the US.