Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll July 5-12, 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 156 16 16 16
Somewhat approve 225 22 22 38
Somewhat disapprove 254 25 25 63
Strongly disapprove 360 36 36 99
Skipped/Ref 7 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 381 38 38 38
Disapprove 614 61 61 99
Skipped/Ref 7 1 1 100

B7: Confidence in SCOTUS

[The US Supreme Court] Here is a list of institutions in American society. How much confidence do you have in each one?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
A great deal 90 9 9 9
Quite a lot 191 19 19 28
Some 276 28 28 56
Very little 279 28 28 83
None at all 165 16 16 100
99 1 0 0 100

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 35 3 3 3
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 170 17 17 20
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents 397 40 40 60
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents 398 40 40 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

C2A: Justice motivations, v1

In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics 274 27 52 52
Mainly the law 251 25 48 100
(Missing) 478 48 NA NA

C2B: Justice motivations, v2

In general, do you think that the Supreme Court is mainly motivated by politics or mainly motivated by the law?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics 292 29 61 61
Mainly the law 185 18 39 100
Web blank 1 0 0 100
(Missing) 525 52 NA NA

C3: Knowledge of abortion ruling

[A Supreme Court decision on abortion] Here are some recent topics in the news. How much have you heard or read about each of these?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
A lot 816 81 81 81
A little 152 15 15 97
Nothing at all 30 3 3 100
Skipped/Ref 5 0 0 100

C5: Knowledge of 2nd Amendment ruling

[A Supreme Court decision on the right to possess a gun outside the home] Here are some recent topics in the news. How much have you heard or read about each of these?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
A lot 474 47 47 47
A little 364 36 36 84
Nothing at all 165 16 16 100

D1: SCOTUS ideology

[The US Supreme Court] In general, would you describe each of the following as…?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 342 34 34 34
Somewhat conservative 335 33 33 67
Moderate 215 21 21 89
Somewhat liberal 73 7 7 96
Very liberal 35 3 3 100
Skipped/Ref 4 0 0 100

D4: 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 332 33 33 33
Somewhat more conservative 323 32 32 65
Hasn't changed much 208 21 21 86
Somewhat more liberal 89 9 9 95
Much more liberal 44 4 4 99
Skipped/Ref 6 1 1 100

D7: Increase # of justices

[Increase the number of justices on the US Supreme Court] How much do you favor or oppose the following proposals affecting the Supreme Court?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 168 17 17 17
Somewhat favor 322 32 32 49
Somewhat oppose 223 22 22 71
Strongly oppose 287 29 29 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

D8: Should Court consider opinion

Should justices of the Supreme Court consider public opinion about a case when making decisions or should they ignore public opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Should consider public opinion 541 54 54 54
Should ignore public opinion 461 46 46 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

D9: Should Court follow precedent

Should justices of the Supreme Court follow previous decisions whenever possible or should the Court overturn previous decisions if a majority of the Court believes the case was wrongly decided?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Follow previous decisions 333 33 33 33
Overturn if a majority think it was wrongly decided 663 66 66 99
Skipped/Ref 7 1 1 100

J1: Overturned Roe

[Overturned Roe versus Wade, thus striking down the 1973 decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.] Do you favor or oppose the following recent 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 21 2 2 2
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 99 10 10 12
Heard of and favor the decision 312 31 31 43
Heard of and oppose the decision 567 57 57 100
Skipped/Ref 4 0 0 100

J1: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Overturned Roe versus Wade, thus striking down the 1973 decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.] Do you favor or oppose the following recent Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard of and favor the decision 312 31 36 36
Heard of and oppose the decision 567 57 64 100
(Missing) 123 12 NA NA

J2: Expanded 2nd Amendment

[Ruled 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 recent 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 74 7 7 7
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 208 21 21 28
Heard of and favor the decision 404 40 40 68
Heard of and oppose the decision 311 31 31 99
Skipped/Ref 6 1 1 100

J2: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled 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 recent Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard of and favor the decision 404 40 56 56
Heard of and oppose the decision 311 31 44 100
(Missing) 288 29 NA NA

J3: State funding to religious schools

[Ruled that a state program that provides financial support for students attending private schools cannot exclude students attending private religious schools from receiving that support.] Do you favor or oppose the following recent 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 358 36 36 36
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 231 23 23 59
Heard of and favor the decision 242 24 24 83
Heard of and oppose the decision 171 17 17 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

J3: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled that a state program that provides financial support for students attending private schools cannot exclude students attending private religious schools from receiving that support.] Do you favor or oppose the following recent Supreme Court decisions, or haven’t you heard enough about this to have an opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Heard of and favor the decision 242 24 59 59
Heard of and oppose the decision 171 17 41 100
(Missing) 589 59 NA NA

J4: 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 436 43 43 43
Somewhat favor 225 22 22 66
Somewhat oppose 149 15 15 81
Strongly oppose 191 19 19 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

J5: 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 548 55 55 55
Somewhat favor 290 29 29 84
Somewhat oppose 102 10 10 94
Strongly oppose 61 6 6 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

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 246 25 25 25
Democrat 318 32 32 56
Independent 266 27 27 83
Other/No preference 172 17 17 100
Skipped/Ref 1 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 361 36 64 64
Not very strong 203 20 36 100
(Missing) 439 44 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 121 12 28 28
Democratic 112 11 26 53
Neither 205 20 47 100
(Missing) 564 56 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 85 8 8 8
Once a week 156 16 16 24
Once or twice a month 79 8 8 32
A few times a year 133 13 13 45
Seldom 255 25 25 71
Never 294 29 29 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

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 271 27 27 27
No, would not 731 73 73 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 136 14 14 14
Somewhat conservative 215 21 21 35
Moderate 351 35 35 70
Somewhat liberal 178 18 18 88
Very liberal 121 12 12 100
Skipped/Ref 2 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 99 10 10 10
A few times a week 312 31 31 41
A few times a month 272 27 27 68
Once a month 67 7 7 75
Less than once a month 133 13 13 88
Not at all 119 12 12 100

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 266 27 27 27
No 736 73 73 100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 246 25 25 25
Lean Republican 121 12 12 37
Independent 205 20 20 57
Lean Democrat 112 11 11 68
Democrat 318 32 32 100
Refused 1 0 0 100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 367 37 37 37
Independent 205 20 20 57
Democrat 429 43 43 100
Refused 1 0 0 100

gender

sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 469 47 47 47
Female 508 51 51 97
Another gender 12 1 1 99
Skipped/Ref 14 1 1 100

age

age, 4 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 205 20 20 20
30-44 249 25 25 45
45-59 234 23 23 69
60+ 314 31 31 100

education

education - 5 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 80 8 8 8
HS graduate 291 29 29 37
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 275 27 27 64
Bachelor's degree 187 19 19 83
Post grad study/professional degree 169 17 17 100

income

income recode
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 269 27 27 27
$30k to less than $50k 224 22 22 49
$50k to less than $75k 168 17 17 66
$75k to less than $100k 134 13 13 79
$100k or more 205 20 20 100
DK/NA/Ref 3 0 0 100

marital status

marital status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Married 497 50 50 50
Widowed 29 3 3 52
Divorced 106 11 11 63
Separated 31 3 3 66
Single, never married 241 24 24 90
Single, cohabitating 99 10 10 100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White 615 61 61 61
Black 118 12 12 73
Hispanic 164 16 16 89
Other/Multiple 83 8 8 98
Skipped/Ref 23 2 2 100

religious affiliation

religious identification
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant 185 18 18 18
Mainline Protestant 125 12 12 31
Roman Catholic 212 21 21 52
No religion 305 30 30 83
Other religion 170 17 17 100
Skipped/Ref 5 0 0 100