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