Americans’ ratings of the Supreme Court are now as negative as – and more politically polarized than – at any point in more than three decades of polling. And nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%) now say the Supreme Court has too much power, almost three times the share who said this in August 2020 (23%).
Opinion on the legality of abortion has changed little since before the court’s decision, with 62% now saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
Here is a roundup of Americans’ views of the court, perceptions of its ideology, the history of confirmations and justices’ backgrounds.
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Americans’ ratings of the Supreme Court are now as negative as – and more politically polarized than – at any point in more than three decades of polling. And nearly two-thirds of Democrats (64%) now say the Supreme Court has too much power, almost three times the share who said this in August 2020 (23%).
Joe Biden’s federal judicial appointees so far include a record number of women and racial and ethnic minorities.
Opinion on the legality of abortion has changed little since before the court's decision, with 62% now saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
44% of the public says the Senate should definitely (24%) or probably (20%) confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
Here is a roundup of Americans’ views of the court, perceptions of its ideology, the history of confirmations and justices’ backgrounds.
It’s worth remembering that vacancies on the Supreme Court didn’t always devolve into partisan slugfests.
Only 70 of the 3,843 people who have ever served as federal judges as of Feb. 1, 2022, have been Black women.
Today, 54% of U.S. adults say they have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, while 44% have an unfavorable view. And 84% say justices should not bring their political views into decisions.
Donald Trump leaves the White House having appointed nearly as many appeals court judges in four years as Barack Obama appointed in eight.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) said in August that the U.S. Supreme Court has the right amount of power.
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About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
