Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll February 5-15, 2024
(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 |
69 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Somewhat approve |
328 |
33 |
33 |
40 |
Somewhat disapprove |
367 |
37 |
37 |
76 |
Strongly disapprove |
239 |
24 |
24 |
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 |
397 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
Disapprove |
606 |
60 |
60 |
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 |
59 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
Quite a lot |
194 |
19 |
19 |
25 |
Some |
353 |
35 |
35 |
60 |
Very little |
264 |
26 |
26 |
87 |
None at all |
133 |
13 |
13 |
100 |
C3: Confidence in Congress
[Congress] 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 |
22 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Quite a lot |
81 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
Some |
333 |
33 |
33 |
43 |
Very little |
381 |
38 |
38 |
81 |
None at all |
186 |
19 |
19 |
100 |
C4: Confidence in Presidency
[The Presidency] 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 |
165 |
16 |
16 |
25 |
Some |
312 |
31 |
31 |
56 |
Very little |
238 |
24 |
24 |
80 |
None at all |
205 |
20 |
20 |
100 |
C5: 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 |
61 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
Quite a lot |
195 |
19 |
19 |
25 |
Some |
362 |
36 |
36 |
62 |
Very little |
203 |
20 |
20 |
82 |
None at all |
183 |
18 |
18 |
100 |
C6: 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 |
81 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
Quite a lot |
264 |
26 |
26 |
34 |
Some |
420 |
42 |
42 |
76 |
Very little |
144 |
14 |
14 |
91 |
None at all |
93 |
9 |
9 |
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 |
68 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents |
218 |
22 |
22 |
29 |
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents |
386 |
38 |
38 |
67 |
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents |
329 |
33 |
33 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C8: 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 |
241 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
A little |
562 |
56 |
56 |
80 |
Nothing at all |
201 |
20 |
20 |
100 |
C9: Justice motivations
In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Mainly politics |
543 |
54 |
54 |
54 |
Mainly the law |
460 |
46 |
46 |
100 |
C10: 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 |
72 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
High |
194 |
19 |
19 |
27 |
Average |
372 |
37 |
37 |
64 |
Low |
233 |
23 |
23 |
87 |
Very low |
132 |
13 |
13 |
100 |
C11: 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 |
454 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
Somewhat favor |
244 |
24 |
24 |
70 |
Somewhat oppose |
146 |
15 |
15 |
84 |
Strongly oppose |
157 |
16 |
16 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C12: 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 |
519 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
Somewhat favor |
297 |
30 |
30 |
81 |
Somewhat oppose |
133 |
13 |
13 |
95 |
Strongly oppose |
53 |
5 |
5 |
100 |
C13: 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 |
183 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
Somewhat favor |
149 |
15 |
15 |
33 |
Somewhat oppose |
145 |
15 |
15 |
48 |
Strongly oppose |
526 |
52 |
52 |
100 |
C14: 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 |
385 |
38 |
38 |
38 |
Somewhat favor |
259 |
26 |
26 |
64 |
Somewhat oppose |
239 |
24 |
24 |
88 |
Strongly oppose |
120 |
12 |
12 |
100 |
C15: 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 |
545 |
54 |
54 |
54 |
Somewhat favor |
206 |
20 |
20 |
75 |
Somewhat oppose |
169 |
17 |
17 |
92 |
Strongly oppose |
83 |
8 |
8 |
100 |
C16: 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 |
396 |
40 |
40 |
40 |
Heard but not enough |
277 |
28 |
28 |
67 |
Favorable opinion |
164 |
16 |
16 |
84 |
Unfavorable opinion |
164 |
16 |
16 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C17: 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 |
292 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
Heard but not enough |
275 |
27 |
27 |
57 |
Favorable opinion |
194 |
19 |
19 |
76 |
Unfavorable opinion |
241 |
24 |
24 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C18: 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 |
407 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
Heard but not enough |
298 |
30 |
30 |
70 |
Favorable opinion |
152 |
15 |
15 |
85 |
Unfavorable opinion |
142 |
14 |
14 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
4 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C19: 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 |
353 |
35 |
35 |
35 |
Heard but not enough |
259 |
26 |
26 |
61 |
Favorable opinion |
231 |
23 |
23 |
84 |
Unfavorable opinion |
159 |
16 |
16 |
100 |
C20: 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 |
462 |
46 |
46 |
46 |
Heard but not enough |
297 |
30 |
30 |
76 |
Favorable opinion |
152 |
15 |
15 |
91 |
Unfavorable opinion |
91 |
9 |
9 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C21: 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 |
211 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Heard but not enough |
259 |
26 |
26 |
47 |
Favorable opinion |
229 |
23 |
23 |
70 |
Unfavorable opinion |
304 |
30 |
30 |
100 |
C22: 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 |
333 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
Heard but not enough |
272 |
27 |
27 |
60 |
Favorable opinion |
255 |
25 |
25 |
86 |
Unfavorable opinion |
143 |
14 |
14 |
100 |
C23: 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 |
291 |
29 |
29 |
29 |
Heard but not enough |
238 |
24 |
24 |
53 |
Favorable opinion |
310 |
31 |
31 |
84 |
Unfavorable opinion |
163 |
16 |
16 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
0 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C24: 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 |
219 |
22 |
22 |
22 |
Heard but not enough |
194 |
19 |
19 |
41 |
Favorable opinion |
260 |
26 |
26 |
67 |
Unfavorable opinion |
330 |
33 |
33 |
100 |
C25: Favor/oppose Trump ballot disqualification
[Overturn a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that disqualified Donald Trump from the state’s upcoming Republican presidential primary.] 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 |
127 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
Heard of but not enough for an opinion |
178 |
18 |
18 |
30 |
Heard of and favor the decision |
347 |
35 |
35 |
65 |
Heard of and oppose the decision |
348 |
35 |
35 |
100 |
Web blank |
2 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
C26: Favor/oppose domestic violence gun ban
[Uphold a federal law that the government may prohibit people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms.] 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 |
232 |
23 |
23 |
23 |
Heard of but not enough for an opinion |
186 |
19 |
19 |
42 |
Heard of and favor the decision |
531 |
53 |
53 |
95 |
Heard of and oppose the decision |
54 |
5 |
5 |
100 |
INT1: internet use
Do you use the internet or email, at least occasionally? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Yes |
1003 |
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 |
59 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
Once a week |
132 |
13 |
13 |
19 |
Once or twice a month |
76 |
8 |
8 |
27 |
A few times a year |
136 |
14 |
14 |
40 |
Seldom |
260 |
26 |
26 |
66 |
Never |
340 |
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 |
252 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
No, would not |
749 |
75 |
75 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
2 |
0 |
0 |
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 |
228 |
23 |
23 |
35 |
Moderate |
361 |
36 |
36 |
71 |
Somewhat liberal |
193 |
19 |
19 |
90 |
Very liberal |
94 |
9 |
9 |
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 |
69 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
A few times a week |
269 |
27 |
27 |
34 |
A few times a month |
294 |
29 |
29 |
63 |
Once a month |
103 |
10 |
10 |
73 |
Less than once a month |
173 |
17 |
17 |
91 |
Not at all |
94 |
9 |
9 |
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 |
239 |
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 |
373 |
37 |
37 |
37 |
Joe Biden |
404 |
40 |
40 |
77 |
Someone else |
15 |
1 |
1 |
79 |
I did not vote in the 2020 presidential election |
211 |
21 |
21 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
Z9: own or rent
Is your home owned or rented? |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Owned |
706 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
Rented |
297 |
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 |
172 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
2 |
532 |
53 |
53 |
70 |
3 |
178 |
18 |
18 |
88 |
4 |
83 |
8 |
8 |
96 |
5 |
21 |
2 |
2 |
98 |
6 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
99 |
7 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
8 or more |
1 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
party ID, 5-cat
Party ID with leaners separate |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Republican |
309 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
Lean Republican |
106 |
11 |
11 |
41 |
Independent |
163 |
16 |
16 |
58 |
Lean Democrat |
107 |
11 |
11 |
68 |
Democrat |
318 |
32 |
32 |
100 |
party ID, leaners as partisans
Party ID with leaners included |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Republican |
415 |
41 |
41 |
41 |
Independent |
163 |
16 |
16 |
58 |
Democrat |
425 |
42 |
42 |
100 |
gender
sex |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Male |
471 |
47 |
47 |
47 |
Female |
508 |
51 |
51 |
98 |
Another gender |
13 |
1 |
1 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
11 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
age
age, 4 categories |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
18-29 |
203 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
30-44 |
256 |
25 |
25 |
46 |
45-59 |
233 |
23 |
23 |
69 |
60+ |
312 |
31 |
31 |
100 |
education
education - 5 categories |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Less than HS |
91 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
HS graduate |
287 |
29 |
29 |
38 |
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates |
257 |
26 |
26 |
64 |
Bachelor's degree |
191 |
19 |
19 |
83 |
Post grad study/professional degree |
173 |
17 |
17 |
100 |
(Missing) |
4 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
income
income recode |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Less than $30k |
267 |
27 |
27 |
27 |
$30k to less than $50k |
172 |
17 |
17 |
44 |
$50k to less than $75k |
146 |
15 |
15 |
58 |
$75k to less than $100k |
147 |
15 |
15 |
73 |
$100k or more |
270 |
27 |
27 |
100 |
DK/NA/Ref |
2 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
marital status
marital status |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Married |
526 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
Widowed |
33 |
3 |
3 |
56 |
Divorced |
94 |
9 |
9 |
65 |
Separated |
22 |
2 |
2 |
67 |
Single, never married |
220 |
22 |
22 |
89 |
Single, cohabitating |
106 |
11 |
11 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
3 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
race/ethnicity
race and hispanic origin |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
White |
610 |
61 |
61 |
61 |
Black |
122 |
12 |
12 |
73 |
Hispanic |
169 |
17 |
17 |
90 |
Other/Multiple |
93 |
9 |
9 |
99 |
Skipped/Ref |
9 |
1 |
1 |
100 |
religious affiliation
religious identification |
|
Frequency |
Percent |
Valid Percent |
Cumulative Percent |
Born-again Protestant |
208 |
21 |
21 |
21 |
Mainline Protestant |
166 |
17 |
17 |
37 |
Roman Catholic |
214 |
21 |
21 |
59 |
No religion |
287 |
29 |
29 |
87 |
Other religion |
123 |
12 |
12 |
100 |
Skipped/Ref |
4 |
0 |
0 |
100 |
(Missing) |
1 |
0 |
NA |
NA |