Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll May 8-18, 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	68	7	7	7
Somewhat approve	343	34	34	41
Somewhat disapprove	355	35	35	76
Strongly disapprove	243	24	24	100
Skipped/Ref	1	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	412	41	41	41
Disapprove	597	59	59	100
Skipped/Ref	1	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	76	8	8	8
Quite a lot	171	17	17	25
Some	365	36	36	61
Very little	265	26	26	87
None at all	132	13	13	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C6: 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	47	5	5	5
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents	250	25	25	29
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents	413	41	41	70
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents	299	30	30	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C7: 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	390	39	39	39
Heard but not enough	275	27	27	66
Favorable opinion	159	16	16	82
Unfavorable opinion	185	18	18	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C8: 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	318	31	31	31
Heard but not enough	235	23	23	55
Favorable opinion	189	19	19	73
Unfavorable opinion	268	27	27	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C9: 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	385	38	38	38
Heard but not enough	276	27	27	65
Favorable opinion	188	19	19	84
Unfavorable opinion	160	16	16	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C10: 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	360	36	36	36
Heard but not enough	287	28	28	64
Favorable opinion	223	22	22	86
Unfavorable opinion	139	14	14	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C11: 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	440	44	44	44
Heard but not enough	285	28	28	72
Favorable opinion	178	18	18	89
Unfavorable opinion	107	11	11	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C12: 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	239	24	24	24
Heard but not enough	227	22	22	46
Favorable opinion	221	22	22	68
Unfavorable opinion	322	32	32	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C13: 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	337	33	33	33
Heard but not enough	270	27	27	60
Favorable opinion	220	22	22	82
Unfavorable opinion	183	18	18	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C14: 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	302	30	30	30
Heard but not enough	264	26	26	56
Favorable opinion	292	29	29	85
Unfavorable opinion	150	15	15	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C15: 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	217	21	21	21
Heard but not enough	184	18	18	40
Favorable opinion	249	25	25	64
Unfavorable opinion	359	36	36	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C16: Heard about Trump indictment

[Donald Trump being indicted in New York State court] 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	662	66	66	66
A little	295	29	29	95
Nothing at all	53	5	5	100

C17: 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	159	16	16	16
A little	448	44	44	60
Nothing at all	402	40	40	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C18: Heard about abortion medication case

[A Supreme Court case concerning the drug used in medication-induced abortions, mifepristone] 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	360	36	36	36
A little	360	36	36	71
Nothing at all	290	29	29	100

C19: Heard about Thomas finance disclosures

[News stories about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ financial disclosure reports] 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	336	33	33	33
A little	322	32	32	65
Nothing at all	352	35	35	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	241	24	24	24
Somewhat conservative	334	33	33	57
Moderate	303	30	30	87
Somewhat liberal	99	10	10	97
Very liberal	32	3	3	100
Skipped/Ref	1	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	270	27	27	27
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	281	28	28	55
Favor	340	34	34	88
Oppose	118	12	12	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	340	34	74	74
Oppose	118	12	26	100
(Missing)	551	55	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	250	25	25	25
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	214	21	21	46
Heard of and favor the decision	233	23	23	69
Heard of and oppose the decision	313	31	31	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	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	233	23	43	43
Heard of and oppose the decision	313	31	57	100
(Missing)	464	46	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	191	19	19	19
Somewhat favor	157	16	16	35
Somewhat oppose	158	16	16	50
Strongly oppose	502	50	50	100
Skipped/Ref	1	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	427	42	42	42
Somewhat favor	248	25	25	67
Somewhat oppose	148	15	15	82
Strongly oppose	186	18	18	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J3: Honesty of SCOTUS justices

[U.S. Supreme Court Justices] Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields--very high, high, average, low, or very low?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very high	80	8	8	8
High	178	18	18	26
Average	399	39	39	65
Low	214	21	21	86
Very low	138	14	14	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J4: Honesty of state judges

[Judges in your state] Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields--very high, high, average, low, or very low?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very high	48	5	5	5
High	194	19	19	24
Average	514	51	51	75
Low	155	15	15	90
Very low	97	10	10	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J5: Honesty of journalists

[Journalists] Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields--very high, high, average, low, or very low?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very high	43	4	4	4
High	149	15	15	19
Average	358	35	35	54
Low	253	25	25	80
Very low	206	20	20	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J6: Honesty of lawyers

[Lawyers] Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields--very high, high, average, low, or very low?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very high	26	3	3	3
High	112	11	11	14
Average	438	43	43	57
Low	283	28	28	85
Very low	149	15	15	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J7: Honesty of cable TV news

[Cable TV news] Please tell me how you would rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in these different fields--very high, high, average, low, or very low?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very high	22	2	2	2
High	60	6	6	8
Average	352	35	35	43
Low	297	29	29	72
Very low	278	27	27	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

X1: Trust in government

How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right?...Just about always, most of the time, only some of the time, never?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Just about always	18	2	2	2
Most of the time	153	15	15	17
Only some of the time	625	62	62	79
Never	213	21	21	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

X2: Trust in others

Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted, or most people can't be trusted?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Most people can be trusted	511	51	51	51
Most people can't be trusted	499	49	49	100
Skipped/Ref	0	0	0	100

INT1: internet use

Do you use the internet or email, at least occasionally?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Yes	1010	100	100	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	300	30	30	30
Democrat	301	30	30	60
Independent	253	25	25	85
Other/No preference	155	15	15	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	341	34	57	57
Not very strong	261	26	43	100
(Missing)	408	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	105	10	26	26
Democratic	116	11	28	54
Neither	186	18	45	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100
(Missing)	602	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	54	5	5	5
Once a week	138	14	14	19
Once or twice a month	79	8	8	27
A few times a year	133	13	13	40
Seldom	292	29	29	69
Never	313	31	31	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	269	27	27	27
No, would not	741	73	73	100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very conservative	127	13	13	13
Somewhat conservative	222	22	22	35
Moderate	364	36	36	71
Somewhat liberal	170	17	17	87
Very liberal	124	12	12	100
Skipped/Ref	3	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	74	7	7	7
A few times a week	303	30	30	37
A few times a month	259	26	26	63
Once a month	92	9	9	72
Less than once a month	190	19	19	91
Not at all	91	9	9	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	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	246	24	24	24
No	764	76	76	100

Z8: Vote choice in 2020

Which presidential candidate did you vote for in 2020?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Donald Trump	339	34	34	34
Joe Biden	394	39	39	73
Someone else	59	6	6	79
I did not vote in the 2020 presidential election	216	21	21	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	300	30	30	30
Lean Republican	105	10	10	40
Independent	186	18	18	59
Lean Democrat	116	11	11	70
Democrat	301	30	30	100
Refused	1	0	0	100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	405	40	40	40
Independent	186	18	18	59
Democrat	418	41	41	100
Refused	1	0	0	100

gender

sex
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Male	474	47	47	47
Female	516	51	51	98
Another gender	7	1	1	99
Skipped/Ref	13	1	1	100

age

age, 4 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
18-29	209	21	21	21
30-44	261	26	26	47
45-59	242	24	24	71
60+	298	29	29	100

education

education - 5 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Less than HS	88	9	9	9
HS graduate	287	28	28	37
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates	269	27	27	64
Bachelor's degree	198	20	20	83
Post grad study/professional degree	168	17	17	100

income

income recode
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k	282	28	28	28
$30k to less than $50k	198	20	20	48
$50k to less than $75k	167	17	17	64
$75k to less than $100k	136	13	13	77
$100k or more	226	22	22	100
DK/NA/Ref	1	0	0	100

marital status

marital status
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Married	465	46	46	46
Widowed	58	6	6	52
Divorced	90	9	9	61
Separated	21	2	2	63
Single, never married	244	24	24	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	624	62	62	62
Black	116	12	12	73
Hispanic	170	17	17	90
Other/Multiple	90	9	9	99
Skipped/Ref	11	1	1	100

religious affiliation

religious identification
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant	210	21	21	21
Mainline Protestant	167	17	17	37
Roman Catholic	189	19	19	56
No religion	320	32	32	88
Other religion	119	12	12	100
Skipped/Ref	3	0	0	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA