So erfand sich das Bundesverfassungsgericht im Laufe der Jahre selbst als Verfassungsorgan – oft sehr zum Missfallen der politischen Klasse. Gerichtsschelte gehörte zum festen Repertoire. Er hoffe, dass sich beim Bundesverfassungsgericht "der Geist des Sozialismus nicht auswirkt", mokierte sich Bundesjustizminister Thomas Dehler auf einem FDP-Parteitag im November 1952.

Aus der Welt, 25.07.2012

In such ways the Federal Constitutional Court – the Bundesverfassungsgericht – has defined itself over the years as a constitutional organ, often much to the dismay of the political class. They’ve had to become very acquainted to getting chastised by the court. Speaking at the 1952 party convention for Germany’s liberal party, the FDP, Federal Justice Minister Thomas Dehler sneered that he hoped the Court would not be influenced by “the spirit of socialism.”

"defined itself" may work, as "invented itself" sounds weird to me in English. What do other people think?

Also, I had a hard time with the line "Gerichtsschelte gehörte zum festen Repertoire": I translated very loosely what I though was being said. That is, the text has to do with the court's tendency to step into political matters and mess up whatever it is the politicians are trying to do (and the author believes this is a good thing). A more colloquial expression may be something with the phrase "eat crow", but I am not sure.

Does what I have accurately convey the sense of the original text, even if it is not a literal translation at all? Any other suggestions?