Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll November 2-7, 2023
(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.
C1: SCOTUS 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 |
86 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
Somewhat approve |
331 |
33 |
33 |
41 |
Somewhat disapprove |
356 |
35 |
35 |
77 |
Strongly disapprove |
237 |
23 |
23 |
100 |
C1: SCOTUS 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 |
417 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
Disapprove |
593 |
59 |
59 |
100 |
C2: 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 |
73 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Quite a lot |
209 |
21 |
21 |
28 |
Some |
361 |
36 |
36 |
64 |
Very little |
250 |
25 |
25 |
89 |
None at all |
115 |
11 |
11 |
100 |
C5: Confidence in state Supreme Court
[Your state Supreme Court or highest court in your state] 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 |
70 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Quite a lot |
232 |
23 |
23 |
30 |
Some |
405 |
40 |
40 |
70 |
Very little |
204 |
20 |
20 |
90 |
None at all |
97 |
10 |
10 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C6: Confidence in DOJ
[The U.S. Department of Justice] 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 |
84 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Quite a lot |
187 |
18 |
18 |
27 |
Some |
382 |
38 |
38 |
65 |
Very little |
213 |
21 |
21 |
86 |
None at all |
144 |
14 |
14 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
0 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C7: Confidence in juries
[Juries that decide guilt or innocence in criminal cases] 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 |
269 |
27 |
27 |
36 |
Some |
426 |
42 |
42 |
78 |
Very little |
156 |
15 |
15 |
93 |
None at all |
68 |
7 |
7 |
100 |
C8: 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 |
227 |
22 |
22 |
26 |
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents |
437 |
43 |
43 |
70 |
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents |
304 |
30 |
30 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
3 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C9: Heard about SCOTUS last month
Thinking about the last month only, how much have you heard or read about the U.S. Supreme Court? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
A lot |
153 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
A little |
610 |
60 |
60 |
75 |
Nothing at all |
248 |
25 |
25 |
100 |
C10: Justice motivations
In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Mainly politics |
553 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
Mainly the law |
457 |
45 |
45 |
100 |
C11: Justice ethics/honesty
[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 |
58 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
High |
223 |
22 |
22 |
28 |
Average |
390 |
39 |
39 |
66 |
Low |
215 |
21 |
21 |
88 |
Very low |
124 |
12 |
12 |
100 |
C12: Appoint vs. elect judges
Some states [appoint] state supreme court justices, and other states [elect] them. Do you think it is better to have state supreme court justices [appointed] or to have justices [elected]? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Better to have justices be elected |
630 |
62 |
62 |
62 |
Better to have justices be appointed |
144 |
14 |
14 |
77 |
Don't know |
236 |
23 |
23 |
100 |
C13: Favor/oppose same-sex marriage
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 |
428 |
42 |
42 |
42 |
Somewhat favor |
229 |
23 |
23 |
65 |
Somewhat oppose |
171 |
17 |
17 |
82 |
Strongly oppose |
181 |
18 |
18 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C14: Favor/oppose 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 |
522 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
Somewhat favor |
307 |
30 |
30 |
82 |
Somewhat oppose |
121 |
12 |
12 |
94 |
Strongly oppose |
60 |
6 |
6 |
100 |
C15: Favor/oppose overturn 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 |
212 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Somewhat favor |
138 |
14 |
14 |
35 |
Somewhat oppose |
200 |
20 |
20 |
54 |
Strongly oppose |
460 |
46 |
46 |
100 |
C16: Favor/oppose expand 2nd Amendment to handguns
In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that, subject to some restrictions, the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home. How much do you favor or oppose this decision? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Strongly favor |
376 |
37 |
37 |
37 |
Somewhat favor |
303 |
30 |
30 |
67 |
Somewhat oppose |
202 |
20 |
20 |
87 |
Strongly oppose |
129 |
13 |
13 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
0 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C17: Favor/oppose race in college admissions
In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that colleges cannot use race as a factor in deciding which applicants to admit. How much do you favor or oppose this decision? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Strongly favor |
586 |
58 |
58 |
58 |
Somewhat favor |
214 |
21 |
21 |
79 |
Somewhat oppose |
132 |
13 |
13 |
92 |
Strongly oppose |
77 |
8 |
8 |
100 |
F1: SCOTUS ideology
[The US Supreme Court] In general, would you describe each of the following as…? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Very conservative |
213 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Somewhat conservative |
358 |
35 |
35 |
57 |
Moderate |
321 |
32 |
32 |
88 |
Somewhat liberal |
73 |
7 |
7 |
95 |
Very liberal |
46 |
5 |
5 |
100 |
F22: DOJ treatment of Trump
Do you think the Department of Justice’s treatment of Donald Trump is motivated by partisan politics, or not? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Motivated by partisan politics |
555 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
Is not motivated by partisan politics |
455 |
45 |
45 |
100 |
F23: Trump after 2020
As you may know, Donald Trump has been indicted by the federal government concerning his actions following the 2020 vote. In connection with those actions, do you think Trump did something illegal, he did something wrong but not illegal, or do you think he didn’t do anything wrong? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Something illegal |
504 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
Something wrong but not illegal |
292 |
29 |
29 |
79 |
He didn't do anything wrong |
214 |
21 |
21 |
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 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Most of the time |
176 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
Only some of the time |
650 |
64 |
64 |
82 |
Never |
177 |
18 |
18 |
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 |
505 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
Most people can't be trusted |
503 |
50 |
50 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
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 |
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 |
55 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Once a week |
155 |
15 |
15 |
21 |
Once or twice a month |
85 |
8 |
8 |
29 |
A few times a year |
169 |
17 |
17 |
46 |
Seldom |
253 |
25 |
25 |
71 |
Never |
293 |
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 |
296 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
No, would not |
714 |
71 |
71 |
100 |
Z5: political ideology
Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Very conservative |
148 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
Somewhat conservative |
208 |
21 |
21 |
35 |
Moderate |
381 |
38 |
38 |
73 |
Somewhat liberal |
170 |
17 |
17 |
90 |
Very liberal |
103 |
10 |
10 |
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 |
76 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
A few times a week |
256 |
25 |
25 |
33 |
A few times a month |
290 |
29 |
29 |
62 |
Once a month |
102 |
10 |
10 |
72 |
Less than once a month |
182 |
18 |
18 |
90 |
Not at all |
104 |
10 |
10 |
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 |
248 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
No |
762 |
75 |
75 |
100 |
Z9: own or rent
Is your home owned or rented? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Owned |
706 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
Rented |
304 |
30 |
30 |
100 |
Z10: adults in household
Including yourself, how many adults age 18 or older are there living in your household? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
1 |
173 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
2 |
532 |
53 |
53 |
70 |
3 |
156 |
15 |
15 |
85 |
4 |
106 |
10 |
10 |
96 |
5 |
24 |
2 |
2 |
98 |
6 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
99 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
8 or more |
2 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
party ID, 5-cat
Party ID with leaners separate |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Republican |
324 |
32 |
32 |
32 |
Lean Republican |
112 |
11 |
11 |
43 |
Independent |
137 |
14 |
14 |
57 |
Lean Democrat |
119 |
12 |
12 |
68 |
Democrat |
318 |
32 |
32 |
100 |
party ID, leaners as partisans
Party ID with leaners included |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Republican |
435 |
43 |
43 |
43 |
Independent |
137 |
14 |
14 |
57 |
Democrat |
437 |
43 |
43 |
100 |
gender
sex |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Male |
486 |
48 |
48 |
48 |
Female |
508 |
50 |
50 |
98 |
Another gender |
3 |
0 |
0 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
13 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
age
age, 4 categories |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
18-29 |
197 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
30-44 |
263 |
26 |
26 |
46 |
45-59 |
234 |
23 |
23 |
69 |
60+ |
315 |
31 |
31 |
100 |
education
education - 5 categories |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Less than HS |
92 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
HS graduate |
290 |
29 |
29 |
38 |
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates |
266 |
26 |
26 |
64 |
Bachelor's degree |
189 |
19 |
19 |
83 |
Post grad study/professional degree |
171 |
17 |
17 |
100 |
(Missing) |
3 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
income
income recode |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Less than $30k |
276 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
$30k to less than $50k |
186 |
18 |
18 |
46 |
$50k to less than $75k |
169 |
17 |
17 |
63 |
$75k to less than $100k |
139 |
14 |
14 |
76 |
$100k or more |
240 |
24 |
24 |
100 |
marital status
marital status |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Married |
510 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
Widowed |
53 |
5 |
5 |
56 |
Divorced |
68 |
7 |
7 |
62 |
Separated |
24 |
2 |
2 |
65 |
Single, never married |
230 |
23 |
23 |
88 |
Single, cohabitating |
118 |
12 |
12 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
7 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
race/ethnicity
race and hispanic origin |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
White |
612 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
Black |
119 |
12 |
12 |
72 |
Hispanic |
178 |
18 |
18 |
90 |
Other/Multiple |
94 |
9 |
9 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
7 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
religious affiliation
religious identification |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Born-again Protestant |
239 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
Mainline Protestant |
184 |
18 |
18 |
42 |
Roman Catholic |
156 |
15 |
15 |
57 |
No religion |
284 |
28 |
28 |
86 |
Other religion |
139 |
14 |
14 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
7 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
(Missing) |
1 |
0 |
NA |
NA |