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Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll March 18-28, 2024

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.

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 82 8 8 8
Somewhat approve 388 39 39 47
Somewhat disapprove 316 32 32 79
Strongly disapprove 213 21 21 100

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 471 47 47 47
Disapprove 529 53 53 100

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 87 9 9 9
Quite a lot 209 21 21 30
Some 373 37 37 67
Very little 229 23 23 90
None at all 103 10 10 100

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 41 4 4 4
Quite a lot 88 9 9 13
Some 360 36 36 49
Very little 378 38 38 87
None at all 134 13 13 100

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 90 9 9 9
Quite a lot 193 19 19 28
Some 313 31 31 60
Very little 237 24 24 83
None at all 168 17 17 100

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 65 7 7 7
Quite a lot 206 21 21 27
Some 368 37 37 64
Very little 235 23 23 87
None at all 126 13 13 100

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 102 10 10 10
Quite a lot 288 29 29 39
Some 438 44 44 83
Very little 113 11 11 94
None at all 59 6 6 100

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 44 4 4 4
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 209 21 21 25
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents 428 43 43 68
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents 319 32 32 100

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 302 30 30 30
A little 504 50 50 81
Nothing at all 194 19 19 100

C9: Justice motivations

In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics 503 50 50 50
Mainly the law 497 50 50 100

C10A: Trump insurrection ruling, v1

On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states cannot bar Donald Trump from election ballots based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 177 18 35 35
Somewhat favor 116 12 23 58
Somewhat oppose 86 9 17 75
Strongly oppose 123 12 25 100
(Missing) 498 50 NA NA

C10B: Trump insurrection ruling, v2

On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states cannot bar Donald Trump from election ballots based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 200 20 40 40
Somewhat favor 72 7 14 55
Somewhat oppose 69 7 14 68
Strongly oppose 111 11 22 91
Don't know 46 5 9 100
(Missing) 502 50 NA NA

C10: Trump insurrection ruling, combined

On March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (unanimously) that states cannot bar Donald Trump from election ballots based on the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 376 38 38 38
Somewhat favor 188 19 19 56
Somewhat oppose 156 16 16 72
Strongly oppose 235 23 23 95
Don't know 46 5 5 100

C11A: Presidential immunity, v1

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case concerning whether former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions while in office. Which comes closer to your view?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Former presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for their official acts 100 10 20 20
Former presidents should not have immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts 307 31 62 82
Don't know 88 9 18 100
(Missing) 505 51 NA NA

C11B: Presidential immunity, v2

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case concerning whether former President Donald Trump has immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions while president. Which comes closer to your view?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Former President Trump should be immune from criminal prosecution for his official acts 140 14 28 28
Former President Trump should not have immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts 281 28 56 83
Don't know 85 8 17 100
(Missing) 495 49 NA NA

C12: Domestic violence gun ban

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case concerning the constitutionality of a federal law that prohibits people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. Which comes closer to your view?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
The Court should uphold the law prohibiting gun possession by those subject to restraining orders 718 72 72 72
The Court should strike down the law as a violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms 168 17 17 89
Don't know 114 11 11 100

C13: Mifepristone restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a lower court decision that would significantly restrict (but not eliminate altogether) access to a drug used in medication abortions, mifepristone. Which comes closer to your view?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
The Court should rule to keep the current access to the medication abortion drug, thus overturning the lower court decis 599 60 60 60
The Court should rule that the lower court was correct in its decision, thus restricting access to the medication aborti 246 25 25 85
Don't know 155 15 15 100

C14: Social media regulations

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case concerning laws that regulate how large social media companies like Facebook and YouTube control content posted on their sites. Which comes closer to your view?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
The Court should rule that the companies have a First Amendment right to make decisions about what content may be presen 463 46 46 46
The Court should rule that the companies cannot decide what views users may express on the sites 381 38 38 84
Don't know 156 16 16 100

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 248 25 25 25
Somewhat conservative 317 32 32 57
Moderate 333 33 33 90
Somewhat liberal 77 8 8 97
Very liberal 25 3 3 100

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 21 2 2 2
Most of the time 162 16 16 18
Only some of the time 632 63 63 81
Never 186 19 19 100

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 515 51 51 51
Most people can't be trusted 485 49 49 100

INT1: internet use

Do you use the internet or email, at least occasionally?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes 1000 100 100 100

INTFREQ: internet frequency

About how often do you use the internet?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Almost constantly 421 42 42 42
Several times a day 496 50 50 92
About once a day 47 5 5 96
Several times a week 27 3 3 99
Less often 9 1 1 100

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 330 33 33 33
Democrat 283 28 28 61
Independent 260 26 26 87
Other/No preference 127 13 13 100

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 364 36 59 59
Not very strong 249 25 41 100
(Missing) 387 39 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 126 13 32 32
Democratic 140 14 36 69
Neither 122 12 31 100
(Missing) 613 61 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 68 7 7 7
Once a week 127 13 13 20
Once or twice a month 88 9 9 28
A few times a year 178 18 18 46
Seldom 265 27 27 73
Never 273 27 27 100

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 259 26 26 26
No, would not 741 74 74 100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 103 10 10 10
Somewhat conservative 274 27 27 38
Moderate 371 37 37 75
Somewhat liberal 162 16 16 91
Very liberal 89 9 9 100
Skipped/Ref 0 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 79 8 8 8
A few times a week 271 27 27 35
A few times a month 290 29 29 64
Once a month 99 10 10 74
Less than once a month 153 15 15 89
Not at all 108 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 232 23 23 23
No 768 77 77 100

GE2020: 2020 vote

Did you vote in the general election in 2020?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes, did vote in the 2020 general election 748 75 75 75
No, did not vote in the 2020 general election 252 25 25 100

Z8: Vote choice in 2020

Which presidential candidate did you vote for in 2020?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Donald Trump 346 35 46 46
Joe Biden 372 37 50 96
Jo Jorgensen 9 1 1 97
Howie Hawkins 3 0 0 98
Another candidate 15 1 2 100
Did not vote in that election 3 0 0 100
(Missing) 252 25 NA NA

Z9: own or rent

Is your home owned or rented?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Owned 700 70 70 70
Rented 300 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
2 522 52 52 69
3 175 18 18 87
4 79 8 8 95
5 32 3 3 98
6 7 1 1 99
7 8 1 1 100
8 or more 5 0 0 100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 330 33 33 33
Lean Republican 126 13 13 46
Independent 122 12 12 58
Lean Democrat 140 14 14 72
Democrat 283 28 28 100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 455 46 46 46
Independent 122 12 12 58
Democrat 423 42 42 100

gender

sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 473 47 47 47
Female 503 50 50 98
Another gender 9 1 1 99
Skipped/Ref 14 1 1 100

age

age, 4 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 190 19 19 19
30-44 262 26 26 45
45-59 230 23 23 68
60+ 318 32 32 100

education

education - 5 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 95 10 10 10
HS graduate 278 28 28 38
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 261 26 26 64
Bachelor's degree 200 20 20 84
Post grad study/professional degree 158 16 16 100
(Missing) 8 1 NA NA

income

income recode
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 269 27 27 27
$30k to less than $50k 180 18 18 45
$50k to less than $75k 155 15 15 60
$75k to less than $100k 142 14 14 75
$100k or more 251 25 25 100
DK/NA/Ref 2 0 0 100

marital status

marital status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Married 499 50 50 50
Widowed 38 4 4 54
Divorced 84 8 8 62
Separated 8 1 1 63
Single, never married 252 25 25 88
Single, cohabitating 117 12 12 100
Skipped/Ref 2 0 0 100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White 605 61 61 61
Black 121 12 12 73
Hispanic 172 17 17 90
Other/Multiple 92 9 9 99
Skipped/Ref 9 1 1 100

religious affiliation

religious identification
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant 193 19 19 19
Mainline Protestant 169 17 17 36
Roman Catholic 210 21 21 57
No religion 284 28 28 86
Other religion 143 14 14 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100
(Missing) 0 0 NA NA