This paper discusses the role of the courts in public policy formation, with particular attention to the impact of the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision in Robinson v. Cahill. The author explores the implications of judicial involvement in policy controversies by examining the responses of the New Jersey legislature and Department of Education to the Robinson v. Cahill decision. The analysis focuses on various aspects of the official reaction to the court's decision, including the definition of the Robinson issue itself, the impact of timing on policy deliberation, the context in which the issue was considered, and the patterns of public participation and the structure of the policy process that shaped the new school program. In each instance, the author appraises the significance of the court's role in the controversy, based on information from lengthy interviews with 26 members of the New Jersey legislature and 20 people from the State Department of Education. Additional information for the study was gathered through 50 additional interviews with persons from the legislature, the executive branch, the legal system, and interest groups, as well as by examining a large amount of documentary and fiscal material and responses to a series of public opinion polls. (Author/JG)