The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 41% of voters give the Supreme Court good or excellent ratings. Just 19% give it a poor rating. See crosstabs.

While over half (52%) of Republicans rate the Supreme Court good or excellent, just 39% of Democrats do the same. Among unaffiliated voters, 35% say the Justices are doing a good or excellent job. A separate survey found that Republicans consider judicial appointments a more important voting issue than the War in Iraq.

The survey also found that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is the most well-known out of the nine active justices. He is viewed favorably by 38% and unfavorably by 50%.

The lone female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is the second most familiar to voters. She earns favorable ratings from 36%, unfavorable opinions from 35%, and 29% are not sure. Ginsburg, who is widely regarded as the second most liberal Justice, is viewed favorably by 56% of liberal voters, 36% of moderate voters and 25% of conservative voters.

Associate Justice Samuel Alito is viewed favorably by just 26% of voters and unfavorably by 38%. Another 37% of voters say they are not sure. Appointed by President Bush in 2005, Alito is the most recently appointed judge on the court. Alito is viewed favorably by 35% of Republican voters and just 19% of Democrats.

Chief Justice John Roberts is less known to many voters. His ratings are 26% favorably, 30% unfavorable, and 44% of voters are not sure. He is viewed favorably by 36% of Republicans and 22% of Democrats.

Ronald Regan appointed Antonin Scalia is viewed favorably by 27% and unfavorably by 40%. Forty-percent of GOP voters and just 17% of Democratic voters have a favorable opinion of Scalia.

John Paul Stevens, the longest serving judge on the Supreme Court, earns favorable ratings from 17%, unfavorable opinions from 30% and 52% of voters are not sure. Anthony Kennedy is viewed favorably by 25%, unfavorably by 33%, while 42% of voters are not sure. Stephen Breyer’s numbers are 18% favorable, 28% unfavorable and 54% are not sure. For David Souter, those numbers are 16% favorable, 31% unfavorable, 53% not sure.

Voters’ opinions of the Supreme Court are more positive than those of Congress. Just 13% of voters give Congress good or excellent ratings.

In December 2006, 45% of Likely voters had a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, while 35% held an unfavorable view.

This year, the Supreme Court is expected to decide on case that may lift a 31-year old ban of handguns in Washington, D.C. A previous Rasmussen survey found that the public remains divided on the issue of gun control.

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