Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll March 13-22, 2023

Court items only

(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 61 6 6 6
Somewhat approve 378 38 38 44
Somewhat disapprove 334 33 33 77
Strongly disapprove 229 23 23 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

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 439 44 44 44
Disapprove 564 56 56 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

C1: 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 69 7 7 7
Quite a lot 212 21 21 28
Some 400 40 40 68
Very little 221 22 22 90
None at all 101 10 10 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

C4: Confidence in local courts

[The courts in your community] 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 75 7 7 7
Quite a lot 245 24 24 32
Some 446 44 44 76
Very little 165 16 16 93
None at all 73 7 7 100

C7: 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 39 4 4 4
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 234 23 23 27
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents 416 41 41 69
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents 314 31 31 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

C8: Fav/Unfav: Alito

[Samuel Alito] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 341 34 34 34
Heard but not enough 350 35 35 69
Favorable opinion 148 15 15 84
Unfavorable opinion 165 16 16 100

C9: Fav/Unfav: Coney Barrett

[Amy Coney Barrett] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 267 27 27 27
Heard but not enough 246 25 25 51
Favorable opinion 220 22 22 73
Unfavorable opinion 271 27 27 100

C10: Fav/Unfav: Gorsuch

[Neil Gorsuch] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 356 35 35 35
Heard but not enough 319 32 32 67
Favorable opinion 177 18 18 85
Unfavorable opinion 151 15 15 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

C11: Fav/Unfav: Brown Jackson

[Ketanji Brown Jackson] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 273 27 27 27
Heard but not enough 323 32 32 59
Favorable opinion 260 26 26 85
Unfavorable opinion 148 15 15 100

C12: Fav/Unfav: Kagan

[Elena Kagan] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 390 39 39 39
Heard but not enough 344 34 34 73
Favorable opinion 172 17 17 90
Unfavorable opinion 98 10 10 100

C13: Fav/Unfav: Kavanaugh

[Brett Kavanaugh] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 182 18 18 18
Heard but not enough 227 23 23 41
Favorable opinion 253 25 25 66
Unfavorable opinion 341 34 34 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

C14: Fav/Unfav: Roberts

[John Roberts] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 303 30 30 30
Heard but not enough 304 30 30 60
Favorable opinion 250 25 25 85
Unfavorable opinion 148 15 15 100

C15: Fav/Unfav: Sotomayor

[Sonia Sotomayor] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 272 27 27 27
Heard but not enough 249 25 25 52
Favorable opinion 336 34 34 85
Unfavorable opinion 147 15 15 100

C16: Fav/Unfav: Thomas

[Clarence Thomas] For each of these names have you never heard of them, heard of them but don’t know enough to have an opinion of them, have a favorable opinion or have an unfavorable opinion?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Never heard of 189 19 19 19
Heard but not enough 196 19 19 38
Favorable opinion 294 29 29 68
Unfavorable opinion 326 32 32 100

C18: Heard about affirmative action case

[A Supreme Court case concerning the use of race in college admissions] 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 175 17 17 17
A little 505 50 50 68
Nothing at all 324 32 32 100

C19: Heard about student loan forgiveness case

[A Supreme Court case concerning student loan forgiveness] 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 497 50 50 50
A little 408 41 41 90
Nothing at all 99 10 10 100

C20: Heard about Google/Twitter cases

[A pair of Supreme Court cases concerning Google and Twitter] 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 88 9 9 9
A little 511 51 51 60
Nothing at all 405 40 40 100

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 231 23 23 23
Somewhat conservative 347 35 35 58
Moderate 336 34 34 91
Somewhat liberal 62 6 6 97
Very liberal 23 2 2 100
Skipped/Ref 4 0 0 100

H1: Affirmative action

[Rule that colleges cannot use race as one of several factors in deciding which applicants to admit.] 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 195 19 19 19
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 312 31 31 50
Favor 328 33 33 83
Oppose 168 17 17 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

H1: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Rule that colleges cannot use race as one of several factors in deciding which applicants to admit.] 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 328 33 66 66
Oppose 168 17 34 100
(Missing) 508 51 NA NA

H2: LGBTQ discrimination

[Decide that a business owner’s religious beliefs or free speech rights can justify refusing some services to gay people.] 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 212 21 21 21
Heard of but not enough for an opinion 206 21 21 42
Heard of and favor the decision 254 25 25 67
Heard of and oppose the decision 333 33 33 100

H2: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Decide that a business owner’s religious beliefs or free speech rights can justify refusing some services to gay people.] 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 of and favor the decision 254 25 43 43
Heard of and oppose the decision 333 33 57 100
(Missing) 417 42 NA NA

J1: Overturned Roe

[In 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade, thus striking down the 1973 decision that made abortion legal in all 50 states.] How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 206 21 21 21
Somewhat favor 124 12 12 33
Somewhat oppose 169 17 17 50
Strongly oppose 504 50 50 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

J2: 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 434 43 43 43
Somewhat favor 214 21 21 65
Somewhat oppose 152 15 15 80
Strongly oppose 202 20 20 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

J3: LGBT workplace protections

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 495 49 49 49
Somewhat favor 307 31 31 80
Somewhat oppose 135 13 13 93
Strongly oppose 65 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 307 31 31 31
Democrat 300 30 30 60
Independent 287 29 29 89
Other/No preference 110 11 11 100

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 376 37 62 62
Not very strong 230 23 38 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100
(Missing) 397 40 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 125 12 31 31
Democratic 129 13 32 64
Neither 143 14 36 100
(Missing) 607 60 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 60 6 6 6
Once a week 183 18 18 24
Once or twice a month 68 7 7 31
A few times a year 157 16 16 47
Seldom 256 25 25 72
Never 280 28 28 100

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 302 30 30 30
No, would not 702 70 70 100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 118 12 12 12
Somewhat conservative 219 22 22 34
Moderate 402 40 40 74
Somewhat liberal 160 16 16 90
Very liberal 103 10 10 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

Z6: talk to neighbors

During the last 12 months, how often did you talk with any of your neighbors?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Basically, every day 83 8 8 8
A few times a week 293 29 29 37
A few times a month 278 28 28 65
Once a month 95 9 9 75
Less than once a month 181 18 18 93
Not at all 75 7 7 100

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 287 29 29 29
No 717 71 71 100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 307 31 31 31
Lean Republican 125 12 12 43
Independent 143 14 14 57
Lean Democrat 129 13 13 70
Democrat 300 30 30 100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 432 43 43 43
Independent 143 14 14 57
Democrat 429 43 43 100

gender

sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 486 48 48 48
Female 508 51 51 99
Another gender 3 0 0 99
Skipped/Ref 7 1 1 100

age

age, 4 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 192 19 19 19
30-44 266 27 27 46
45-59 246 25 25 70
60+ 299 30 30 100

education

education - 5 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 96 10 10 10
HS graduate 293 29 29 39
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 263 26 26 65
Bachelor's degree 179 18 18 83
Post grad study/professional degree 172 17 17 100

income

income recode
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 273 27 27 27
$30k to less than $50k 173 17 17 44
$50k to less than $75k 188 19 19 63
$75k to less than $100k 127 13 13 76
$100k or more 240 24 24 100
DK/NA/Ref 2 0 0 100

marital status

marital status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Married 486 48 48 48
Widowed 24 2 2 51
Divorced 109 11 11 62
Separated 15 1 1 63
Single, never married 268 27 27 90
Single, cohabitating 102 10 10 100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White 616 61 61 61
Black 116 12 12 73
Hispanic 168 17 17 90
Other/Multiple 86 9 9 98
Skipped/Ref 19 2 2 100

religious affiliation

religious identification
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant 243 24 24 24
Mainline Protestant 135 13 13 38
Roman Catholic 202 20 20 58
No religion 312 31 31 89
Other religion 109 11 11 100
Skipped/Ref 3 0 0 100
(Missing) 1 0 NA NA