Supreme Court Loses Favor with the Public

Public assessments of the Supreme Court include reached a quarter-century low. Unlike evaluations over much of the earlier period decade, there is very little partisan divide. The court receives relatively low positive ratings from Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.

The survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted April 4-15, 2012 among 1,514 adults nationwide, finds 52% offering a positive opinion of the Supreme Court, down from 58% in 2010 and the earlier low of 57%, in 2005 and 2007. About three-in-ten (29%) say they have an unfavorable view, which approaches the elevated reached in 2005 (30%).

According to the poll, 56% of Republicans, and 52% of both Democrats and independents rate the Supreme Court positively. That compares with April 2009, when 70% of Republicans, 63% of Democrats and 64% of independents held a positive opinion of the court.