What is relationship between the country's political climate and the makeup and rulings of the supreme court

The political environment can directly affect the Supreme Court. When an opening on the Court becomes available, the President is able to fill the position with someone of his choosing. This means the person is usually shares the same political beliefs as the President. This heavily affects the decisions that the Court makes. If one party has chosen most of the candidates then the Court tends to rule that way: either more conservatively or more liberally. Sometimes though judges can flip once in office. They can opt to rule opposite should they find that the answer.