Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll May 9-19, 2022

(Percentages are rounded to whole numbers for reporting of results. Frequencies have been rounded to whole numbers but percentages are calculated based on non-integer weighted sample sizes.)

Results for survey items among all respondents are presented here (unless otherwise indicated). Please note that some questions are only asked of particular groups of respondents. In these instances, the row “NA’s” includes the number and percent of total respondents omitted from the question. These omitted cases are ignored when calculating the “Valid” and “Cumulative” percent columns.

B2: Supreme Court approval

Overall, how much do you approve or disapprove of the way the US Supreme Court is handling its job?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly approve 78 8 8 8
Somewhat approve 365 36 36 44
Somewhat disapprove 316 31 31 76
Strongly disapprove 233 23 23 99
Skipped/Ref 12 1 1 100

B2: Supreme Court approval, 2-cat

Overall, how much do you approve or disapprove of the way the US Supreme Court is handling its job?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Approve 443 44 44 44
Disapprove 550 55 55 99
Skipped/Ref 12 1 1 100

C1: Justice nomination majority

What is your guess as to whether a majority of the current US Supreme Court Justices were appointed by Democratic or Republican presidents?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Definitely a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 52 5 5 5
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 255 25 25 31
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents 387 39 39 69
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents 307 31 31 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100

C2: Heard about cases before Court

How much have you heard or read about recent cases being considered by the US Supreme Court?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
A lot 339 34 34 34
A little 560 56 56 89
Nothing at all 105 11 11 100

D5: Fav/Unfav Brown Jackson

[Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson] Do you have a favorable or an unfavorable opinion of the following people or haven’t you heard enough yet to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favorable opinion 389 39 39 39
Unfavorable opinion 227 23 23 61
Haven't heard enough 381 38 38 99
Skipped/Ref 7 1 1 100

D6: SCOTUS ideology

[The US Supreme Court] In general, would you describe each of the following as…?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 233 23 23 23
Somewhat conservative 328 33 33 56
Moderate 342 34 34 90
Somewhat liberal 76 8 8 97
Very liberal 17 2 2 99
Skipped/Ref 9 1 1 100

D10: SCOTUS ideology trend

Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally become…?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Much more conservative 233 23 23 23
Somewhat more conservative 294 29 29 52
Hasn't changed much 275 27 27 80
Somewhat more liberal 159 16 16 96
Much more liberal 41 4 4 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

H1: Overturn Roe

[Overturn Roe versus Wade, thus strike down the 1973 decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard nothing at all 70 7 7 7
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 152 15 15 22
Favor 243 24 24 46
Oppose 539 54 54 100

H1: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Overturn Roe versus Wade, thus strike down the 1973 decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favor 243 24 31 31
Oppose 539 54 69 100
(Missing) 222 22 NA NA

H2: Expand 2nd Amendment

[Rule that the 2nd Amendment right to “keep and bear arms” protects the right to carry a gun outside the home.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard nothing at all 147 15 15 15
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 228 23 23 37
Favor 408 41 41 78
Oppose 210 21 21 99
Skipped/Ref 11 1 1 100

H2: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Rule that the 2nd Amendment right to “keep and bear arms” protects the right to carry a gun outside the home.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favor 408 41 66 66
Oppose 210 21 34 100
(Missing) 386 38 NA NA

H3: Uphold 15-week abortion ban

[Rule to uphold a state law that (except in cases of medical emergencies or fetal abnormalities) bans abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard nothing at all 83 8 8 8
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 199 20 20 28
Favor 368 37 37 65
Oppose 348 35 35 99
Skipped/Ref 7 1 1 100

H3: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Rule to uphold a state law that (except in cases of medical emergencies or fetal abnormalities) bans abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy.] Do you favor or oppose the following possible future Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favor 368 37 51 51
Oppose 348 35 49 100
(Missing) 289 29 NA NA

J1: Favor/Opppose same-sex marriage right

In 2015 the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 443 44 44 44
Somewhat favor 249 25 25 69
Somewhat oppose 147 15 15 84
Strongly oppose 163 16 16 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100

J2: Favor/Oppose LGBT discrimination ban

In 2020 the Supreme Court ruled that a federal civil rights law protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 584 58 58 58
Somewhat favor 246 25 25 83
Somewhat oppose 100 10 10 93
Strongly oppose 64 6 6 99
Skipped/Ref 10 1 1 100

J3: Favor/Oppose licensed concealed carry

Do you favor or oppose laws that allow most people to obtain a license to carry concealed handguns?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 315 31 31 31
Somewhat favor 305 30 30 62
Somewhat oppose 208 21 21 82
Strongly oppose 172 17 17 100
Skipped/Ref 4 0 0 100

J4: Favor/Oppose unlicensed concealed carry

Do you favor or oppose laws that allow most people to carry concealed handgunswithout needing to obtain a license?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 94 9 9 9
Somewhat favor 97 10 10 19
Somewhat oppose 191 19 19 38
Strongly oppose 617 61 61 99
Skipped/Ref 5 1 1 100

J5: Abortion legality

Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases, or illegal in all cases?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Legal in all cases 294 29 29 29
Legal in most cases 380 38 38 67
Illegal in most cases 243 24 24 91
Illegal in all cases 81 8 8 99
Skipped/Ref 6 1 1 100

J6: Heard off leaked Roe reversal

How much have you heard or read about the leak of a draft US Supreme Court opinion concerning abortion that was published by news organizations on May 2?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
A lot 402 40 40 40
A little 364 36 36 76
Nothing at all 237 24 24 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

J14: Texas abortion ban

A new Texas law bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, once cardiac activity can be detected, and it allows any private citizen to sue anyone who performs an abortion or assists someone in obtaining an abortion. Do you favor or oppose this law, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favor 234 23 23 23
Oppose 553 55 55 78
Haven't heard enough 215 21 21 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

J14: those with opinions only

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] A new Texas law bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, once cardiac activity can be detected, and it allows any private citizen to sue anyone who performs an abortion or assists someone in obtaining an abortion. Do you favor or oppose this law, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Favor 234 23 30 30
Oppose 553 55 70 100
(Missing) 217 22 NA NA

Z1: Party ID

Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 278 28 28 28
Democrat 289 29 29 57
Independent 270 27 27 83
Other/No preference 164 16 16 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100

Z2A: Party ID strenth

Would you call yourself a strong [Republican/Democrat] or a not very strong [Republican/Democrat]?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strong 359 36 63 63
Not very strong 208 21 37 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100
(Missing) 436 43 NA NA

Z2B: Party ID lean

Do you think of yourself as closer to the Republican Party or to the Democratic Party?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 107 11 25 25
Democratic 137 14 32 56
Neither 186 19 43 99
Skipped/Ref 3 0 1 100
(Missing) 570 57 NA NA

Z3: religious service attendance

Aside from weddings and funerals, how often do you attend religious services?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
More than once a week 74 7 7 7
Once a week 158 16 16 23
Once or twice a month 82 8 8 31
A few times a year 147 15 15 46
Seldom 252 25 25 71
Never 291 29 29 100

Z4: born-again or evangelical

Would you describe yourself as a "born-again" or evangelical Christian, or not?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes, would 264 26 26 26
No, would not 740 74 74 100
Skipped/Ref 0 0 0 100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 126 13 13 13
Somewhat conservative 227 23 23 35
Moderate 347 35 35 70
Somewhat liberal 171 17 17 87
Very liberal 130 13 13 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100

Z6: talk to neighbors

Thinking back to the months prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the US, how often did you talk with any of your neighbors?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Basically, every day 117 12 12 12
A few times a week 261 26 26 38
A few times a month 269 27 27 65
Once a month 92 9 9 74
Less than once a month 153 15 15 89
Not at all 112 11 11 100

Z7: volunteering

We are interested in volunteer activities for which people are not paid, except perhaps expenses.  In the last 12 months, have you done any volunteer activities through or for an organization?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes 261 26 26 26
No 741 74 74 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

gender

sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 456 45 45 45
Female 527 52 52 98
Another gender 8 1 1 99
Skipped/Ref 14 1 1 100

age

age, 4 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 206 20 20 20
30-44 248 25 25 45
45-59 249 25 25 70
60+ 301 30 30 100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 278 28 28 28
Lean Republican 107 11 11 38
Independent 189 19 19 57
Lean Democrat 137 14 14 71
Democrat 289 29 29 100
Refused 4 0 0 100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 385 38 38 38
Independent 189 19 19 57
Democrat 427 42 42 100
Refused 4 0 0 100

education

education - 5 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 92 9 9 9
HS graduate 287 29 29 38
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 270 27 27 65
Bachelor's degree 175 17 17 82
Post grad study/professional degree 178 18 18 100
(Missing) 3 0 NA NA

income

income recode
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 332 33 33 33
$30k to less than $50k 179 18 18 51
$50k to less than $75k 172 17 17 68
$75k to less than $100k 125 12 12 80
$100k or more 190 19 19 99
DK/NA/Ref 6 1 1 100

marital status

marital status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Married 462 46 46 46
Widowed 39 4 4 50
Divorced 89 9 9 59
Separated 26 3 3 61
Single, never married 256 25 25 87
Single, cohabitating 129 13 13 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White 620 62 62 62
Black 114 11 11 73
Hispanic 169 17 17 90
Other/Multiple 82 8 8 98
Skipped/Ref 18 2 2 100

religious affiliation

religious identification
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant 181 18 18 18
Mainline Protestant 133 13 13 31
Roman Catholic 200 20 20 51
No religion 314 31 31 82
Other religion 170 17 17 99
Skipped/Ref 5 1 1 100