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