Supreme Court Ratings

Voter Approval of Supreme Court Declines

Fewer voters approve of how the U.S. Supreme Court is doing its job than a year ago, and are more likely to say the court is too conservative than too liberal.

Democrats Like Supreme Court’s Roberts More Than Republicans Do

The U.S. Supreme Court continues to earn better-than-usual favorable ratings. Democrats are especially enamored with Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, who has disappointed conservatives with liberal-leaning votes this year.

Approval of the U.S. Supreme Court Remains High

Despite the controversy surrounding its latest member, voter approval of the U.S. Supreme Court which began its latest session this week remains higher than it has been in years. Voters also clearly think President Trump with his two nominations to the high court has moved it to the right.

Most Say Supreme Court Follows Constitution, But Some Still Say Changes Needed

Several top Senate Democrats warned the U.S. Supreme Court last week to change its current judicial direction or else face restructuring. For the first time in over 10 years of surveying, most voters agree the high court is correctly guided by the U.S. Constitution but also don’t disagree that change is needed.

Voters Put More Trust in SCOTUS Than Congress, President

Voters trust the Supreme Court much more than the other branches of the federal government these days, and they think the high court does a good job regulating what the feds can and cannot do.

U.S. Supreme Court Earns Highest Approval in Years

The U.S. Supreme Court closed its current term this week with its highest favorability ratings in several years.

More Now See Supreme Court as Too Conservative

The Supreme Court returned to the bench on Monday, at full-strength for the first time since Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in early 2016. But with his replacement, Justice Neil Gorsuch on the court, voters are now more likely to think the court leans too far right.

Voters Give Supreme Court High Marks

Voters are feeling better about the U.S. Supreme Court than they have in several years.

What Do Voters Think of the Supreme Court Now?

Praise and criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court are inching down again after last month's major rulings on Obamacare and gay marriage, and voters are more likely now to think the court’s ideology skews liberal.

Voters Still Question Supreme Court's Political Biases

Several major rulings are expected heading into the final month of the U.S. Supreme Court’s current term, including ones on same-sex marriage and President Obama's health care law, but few voters think the court is balanced politically.

Does Supreme Court Limit Big Government Enough?

Ratings for the U.S. Supreme Court are more positive than they’ve been in over two years, although one-third of voters still don't think the high court puts the brakes on the federal government enough.

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The national telephone survey of 800 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on February 22-23, 2015. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Think Justice System Fair to Blacks, 39% Disagree

A plurality of voters still believes the U.S. justice system is fair to black and Hispanic Americans following the grand jury decision in the Michael Brown shooting case in Ferguson, Missouri. But there also continues to be a wide difference of opinion between whites and other voters.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey taken the night the verdict was announced and the night after finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters feel the justice system is fair to these Americans. But 39% disagree and say the system is not fair to blacks and Hispanics, the highest finding on this question in regular surveying since June 2010. Fifteen percent (15%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on November 24-25, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

26% Rate Supreme Court’s Performance Positively

Americans continue to take a dim view of the U.S. Supreme Court's performance, perhaps in part because most still think the justices base their decisions on their own political agenda rather than the law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 26% of Likely U.S. Voters think the nation's highest court does a good or excellent job, while just as many (27%) rate its performance as poor. That's consistent with findings for the past year. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on June 18-19, 2014. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

43% Say U.S. Justice System Unfair to Most Americans

Americans are now evenly divided when asked if the U.S. justice system is fair.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 42% of Likely U.S. Voters think the justice system is fair to most Americans, down just a point from last July but the lowest level of confidence in nearly four years of regular surveying. Just as many (43%) say the justice system is not fair to most Americans, up two points from the previous survey and a new high. Fifteen percent (15%) are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted by Rasmussen Reports on March 20-21, 2013. The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/- 2 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Fieldwork for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

46% Believe It Is Fair To Oppose a Supreme Court Nominee Over Ideology or Philosophy

Most voters think anyone a president nominates to a high-level post is entitled to a straight up-or-down vote in the U.S. Senate, but a sizable number still feels it's okay for a senator to oppose a Supreme Court nomination based on the political or judicial leanings of the nominee.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that nearly half (46%) of Likely U.S. Voters believe that it is fair for a U.S. senator to oppose a high court nominee because of political ideology or judicial philosophy. But that's down 10 points from 56% in April 2010 shortly before President Obama nominated Elena Kagan to serve on the Supreme Court. Thirty-eight percent (38%) feel it is not fair for a senator to oppose a nominee because of their ideology and philosophy, while 16% are unsure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on December 26, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

33% Trust the President More Than Congress, Supreme Court

Democrats strongly trust the president more than Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court, while Republicans and unaffiliated voters have mixed feelings about all three branches of the federal government.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 33% of all Likely U.S. Voters trust the president most. Twenty-three percent (23%) trust the Supreme Court more, while just 15% put their faith in Congress. Twenty-nine percent (29%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.) 

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on September 22-23, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Public Approval of Supreme Court Falls to All-Time Low

The U.S. Supreme Court finished its term with big decisions on voting rights, affirmative action and same-sex marriage. Following those rulings, public approval of the court has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded in more than nine years of polling.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 28% believe the Supreme Court is doing a good or an excellent job. At the same time, 30% rate its performance as poor. That’s the highest-ever poor rating. It’s also the first time ever that the poor ratings have topped the positive assessments. Thirty-nine percent (39%) give the court middling reviews and rate its performance as fair. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 28-29, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

40% Say Supreme Court Is Too Politically Liberal

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to issue several major end-of-the term rulings, more voters than ever think the justices are too liberal. Overall ratings for the high court are near all-time lows.

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely U.S. Voters say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Twenty-four percent (24%) give the court poor marks for its performance. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on June 18-19, 2013 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

33% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job

One-out-of-three Likely U.S. Voters (33%) continue to give the U.S. Supreme Court positive ratings.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 20% rate the high court’s job performance as poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 16-17, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

30% Say Supreme Court Doing Good or Excellent Job

Views of the U.S. Supreme Court's performance are little changed, but fewer voters now believe justices nominated by President Obama are too liberal. 

Thirty percent (30%) of Likely Voters rate the job the Supreme Court is doing as good or excellent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.  Twenty-four percent (24%) consider the high court’s performance poor.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The national survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on November 12-13, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.