Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll July 7-12, 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	134	13	13	13
Somewhat approve	315	31	31	45
Somewhat disapprove	302	30	30	75
Strongly disapprove	254	25	25	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	449	45	45	45
Disapprove	555	55	55	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	106	11	11	11
Quite a lot	207	21	21	31
Some	321	32	32	63
Very little	226	22	22	86
None at all	144	14	14	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	172	17	17	22
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents	419	42	42	63
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents	365	36	36	100
Skipped/Ref	2	0	0	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	511	51	51	51
A little	312	31	31	82
Nothing at all	180	18	18	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

C19: Heard about Alito finance disclosures

[News stories about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s 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	155	15	15	15
A little	335	33	33	49
Nothing at all	515	51	51	100

C20: Heard about Alabama district case

[A Supreme Court case concerning congressional districts in Alabama] 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	102	10	10	10
A little	361	36	36	46
Nothing at all	541	54	54	100

C21: Heard about student loan 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	559	56	56	56
A little	379	38	38	93
Nothing at all	67	7	7	100

C22: Heard about independent legislature case

[A Supreme Court case concerning the powers of state legislatures to set the rules for federal elections for congress and president] 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	168	17	17	17
A little	458	46	46	62
Nothing at all	379	38	38	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	271	27	27	27
Somewhat conservative	350	35	35	62
Moderate	277	28	28	89
Somewhat liberal	74	7	7	97
Very liberal	31	3	3	100
Skipped/Ref	2	0	0	100

D7: 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	287	29	29	29
Somewhat more conservative	337	33	33	62
Hasn't changed much	228	23	23	85
Somewhat more liberal	113	11	11	96
Much more liberal	39	4	4	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

D8: Justice motivations

In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics	586	58	58	58
Mainly the law	418	42	42	100
Skipped/Ref	0	0	0	100

D9: Should justices consider public 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	500	50	50	50
Should ignore public opinion	504	50	50	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

H1: Affirmative action

[Ruled that colleges cannot use race as one of several factors in deciding which applicants to admit.] 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	97	10	10	10
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	182	18	18	28
Heard of and favor the decision	504	50	50	78
Heard of and oppose the decision	221	22	22	100

H1: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled that colleges cannot use race as one of several factors in deciding which applicants to admit.] 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	504	50	70	70
Heard of and oppose the decision	221	22	30	100
(Missing)	280	28	NA	NA

H2: LGBTQ discrimination

[Ruled 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 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	145	14	14	14
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	183	18	18	33
Heard of and favor the decision	357	35	35	68
Heard of and oppose the decision	320	32	32	100

H2: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled 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 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	357	35	53	53
Heard of and oppose the decision	320	32	47	100
(Missing)	328	33	NA	NA

H3: Loan forgiveness

[Ruled that the Biden administration exceeded the authority granted to it by Congress to alter loan conditions, thus striking down the student loan forgiveness policy.] 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	85	8	8	8
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	234	23	23	32
Heard of and favor the decision	374	37	37	69
Heard of and oppose the decision	311	31	31	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

H3: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled that the Biden administration exceeded the authority granted to it by Congress to alter loan conditions, thus striking down the student loan forgiveness policy.] 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	374	37	55	55
Heard of and oppose the decision	311	31	45	100
(Missing)	320	32	NA	NA

H4: Alabama maps

[Ruled that Alabama, in drawing a congressional districting map, diluted the power of Black voters, in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.] 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	409	41	41	41
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	257	26	26	66
Heard of and favor the decision	242	24	24	90
Heard of and oppose the decision	97	10	10	100

H4: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled that Alabama, in drawing a congressional districting map, diluted the power of Black voters, in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.] 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	71	71
Heard of and oppose the decision	97	10	29	100
(Missing)	666	66	NA	NA

H5: Employer religious accomodations

[Ruled that federal civil rights law requires an employer to accommodate an employee’s religious practice unless it can show that doing so would result in substantial increased costs to the employer.] 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	382	38	38	38
Heard of but not enough for an opinion	247	25	25	63
Heard of and favor the decision	268	27	27	89
Heard of and oppose the decision	107	11	11	100

H5: (those with opinions only)

[THOSE WITH OPINIONS ONLY] [Ruled that federal civil rights law requires an employer to accommodate an employee’s religious practice unless it can show that doing so would result in substantial increased costs to the employer.] 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	268	27	72	72
Heard of and oppose the decision	107	11	28	100
(Missing)	630	63	NA	NA

J1: Rights - LGBTQ people

[Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people] Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally expanded or reduced the rights protected for each of these groups or has it not changed much either way?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Expanded rights	563	56	56	56
Reduced rights	251	25	25	81
Has not changed much either way	188	19	19	100
Skipped/Ref	3	0	0	100

J2: Rights - religious people

[Religious people and organizations] Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally expanded or reduced the rights protected for each of these groups or has it not changed much either way?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Expanded rights	423	42	42	42
Reduced rights	230	23	23	65
Has not changed much either way	349	35	35	100
Skipped/Ref	3	0	0	100

J3: Rights - gun owners

[Gun owners] Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally expanded or reduced the rights protected for each of these groups or has it not changed much either way?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Expanded rights	318	32	32	32
Reduced rights	291	29	29	61
Has not changed much either way	393	39	39	100
Skipped/Ref	3	0	0	100

J4: Rights - abortion seekers

[Those seeking an abortion] Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally expanded or reduced the rights protected for each of these groups or has it not changed much either way?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Expanded rights	89	9	9	9
Reduced rights	781	78	78	87
Has not changed much either way	132	13	13	100
Skipped/Ref	4	0	0	100

J5: Rights - minority voters

[Voting rights of racial or ethnic minorities] Over the past 15 years or so would you say the Supreme Court has generally expanded or reduced the rights protected for each of these groups or has it not changed much either way?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Expanded rights	300	30	30	30
Reduced rights	291	29	29	59
Has not changed much either way	411	41	41	100
Skipped/Ref	3	0	0	100

J6: 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	231	23	23	23
Somewhat favor	151	15	15	38
Somewhat oppose	151	15	15	53
Strongly oppose	472	47	47	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J7: 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	424	42	42	42
Somewhat favor	236	23	23	66
Somewhat oppose	163	16	16	82
Strongly oppose	181	18	18	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J8: LGBTQ workplace discrimination

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	499	50	50	50
Somewhat favor	312	31	31	81
Somewhat oppose	124	12	12	93
Strongly oppose	69	7	7	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J9: 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	94	9	9	9
High	230	23	23	32
Average	330	33	33	65
Low	226	22	22	88
Very low	124	12	12	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100

J10: 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	45	4	4	4
High	204	20	20	25
Average	508	51	51	75
Low	172	17	17	92
Very low	75	7	7	100
Skipped/Ref	1	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	302	30	30	30
Democrat	291	29	29	59
Independent	266	26	26	85
Other/No preference	147	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	356	35	60	60
Not very strong	236	23	40	100
(Missing)	413	41	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	102	10	25	25
Democratic	131	13	32	56
Neither	180	18	44	100
(Missing)	592	59	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	88	9	9	9
Once a week	129	13	13	22
Once or twice a month	66	7	7	28
A few times a year	135	13	13	42
Seldom	248	25	25	66
Never	339	34	34	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	274	27	27	27
No, would not	731	73	73	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	398	40	40	75
Somewhat liberal	146	14	14	89
Very liberal	106	11	11	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	77	8	8	8
A few times a week	300	30	30	37
A few times a month	266	26	26	64
Once a month	117	12	12	76
Less than once a month	140	14	14	89
Not at all	106	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	241	24	24	24
No	764	76	76	100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	302	30	30	30
Lean Republican	102	10	10	40
Independent	180	18	18	58
Lean Democrat	131	13	13	71
Democrat	291	29	29	100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	403	40	40	40
Independent	180	18	18	58
Democrat	422	42	42	100

gender

sex
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Male	470	47	47	47
Female	487	48	48	95
Another gender	20	2	2	97
Skipped/Ref	29	3	3	100

age

age, 4 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
18-29	186	18	18	18
30-44	267	27	27	45
45-59	235	23	23	68
60+	318	32	32	100

education

education - 5 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Less than HS	93	9	9	9
HS graduate	294	29	29	39
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates	267	27	27	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	315	31	31	31
$30k to less than $50k	172	17	17	48
$50k to less than $75k	146	15	15	63
$75k to less than $100k	135	13	13	76
$100k or more	236	23	23	100
DK/NA/Ref	1	0	0	100

marital status

marital status
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Married	451	45	45	45
Widowed	38	4	4	49
Divorced	133	13	13	62
Separated	30	3	3	65
Single, never married	262	26	26	91
Single, cohabitating	91	9	9	100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
White	601	60	60	60
Black	122	12	12	72
Hispanic	163	16	16	88
Other/Multiple	86	9	9	97
Skipped/Ref	33	3	3	100

religious affiliation

religious identification
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant	184	18	18	18
Mainline Protestant	147	15	15	33
Roman Catholic	188	19	19	52
No religion	319	32	32	83
Other religion	166	16	17	100
Skipped/Ref	1	0	0	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA