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Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll May 6-15, 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	68	7	7	7
Somewhat approve	330	32	32	39
Somewhat disapprove	362	35	35	74
Strongly disapprove	274	26	26	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	398	39	39	39
Disapprove	635	61	61	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	69	7	7	7
Quite a lot	174	17	17	24
Some	379	37	37	60
Very little	254	25	25	85
None at all	157	15	15	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA

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	27	3	3	3
Quite a lot	88	9	9	11
Some	367	36	36	47
Very little	409	40	40	86
None at all	141	14	14	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA

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	87	8	8	8
Quite a lot	149	14	14	23
Some	324	31	31	54
Very little	264	26	26	80
None at all	208	20	20	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA

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	69	7	7	7
Quite a lot	170	16	16	23
Some	402	39	39	62
Very little	215	21	21	83
None at all	177	17	17	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA

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	91	9	9	9
Quite a lot	270	26	26	35
Some	422	41	41	76
Very little	171	17	17	92
None at all	78	8	8	100
(Missing)	1	0	NA	NA

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	48	5	5	5
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents	236	23	23	28
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents	410	40	40	67
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents	339	33	33	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	278	27	27	27
A little	536	52	52	79
Nothing at all	219	21	21	100

C9: Justice motivations

In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics	576	56	56	56
Mainly the law	457	44	44	100

C10: Municipal outdoor sleeping bans

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case concerning whether cities can, without violating the Constitution, ban homeless people from sleeping or camping in public spaces. Which comes closer to your view?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Cities can ban sleeping in public spaces	481	47	47	47
Cities cannot ban sleeping in public spaces	367	36	36	82
Don't know	185	18	18	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	82	8	16	16
Former presidents should not have immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts	363	35	71	87
Don't know	65	6	13	100
(Missing)	523	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	156	15	30	30
Former President Trump should not have immunity from criminal prosecution for his official acts	312	30	60	90
Don't know	55	5	10	100
(Missing)	510	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	774	75	75	75
The Court should strike down the law as a violation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms	164	16	16	91
Don't know	95	9	9	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	584	57	57	57
The Court should rule that the lower court was correct in its decision, thus restricting access to the medication aborti	275	27	27	83
Don't know	174	17	17	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	490	47	47	47
The Court should rule that the companies cannot decide what views users may express on the sites	362	35	35	82
Don't know	182	18	18	100

E3: Heard about Trump/Daniels case

[Donald Trump’s trial in New York concerning charges he falsified business records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
A lot	613	59	59	59
A little	316	31	31	90
Nothing at all	104	10	10	100

E4: Heard about SCOTUS immunity hearing

[The U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts as president] Here are some recent topics in the news. How much have you heard or read about each of these?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
A lot	453	44	44	44
A little	422	41	41	85
Nothing at all	158	15	15	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	254	25	25	25
Somewhat conservative	331	32	32	57
Moderate	324	31	31	88
Somewhat liberal	104	10	10	98
Very liberal	21	2	2	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	8	1	1	1
Most of the time	156	15	15	16
Only some of the time	650	63	63	79
Never	219	21	21	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	512	50	50	50
Most people can't be trusted	521	50	50	100

INT1: internet use

Do you use the internet or email, at least occasionally?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Yes	1033	100	100	100

INTFREQ: internet frequency

About how often do you use the internet?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Almost constantly	442	43	43	43
Several times a day	492	48	48	90
About once a day	64	6	6	97
Several times a week	19	2	2	99
Less often	15	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	300	29	29	29
Democrat	310	30	30	59
Independent	308	30	30	89
Other/No preference	116	11	11	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	339	33	56	56
Not very strong	271	26	44	100
(Missing)	424	41	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	155	15	37	37
Democratic	165	16	39	76
Neither	103	10	24	100
(Missing)	609	59	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	67	7	7	7
Once a week	165	16	16	22
Once or twice a month	108	10	10	33
A few times a year	128	12	12	45
Seldom	264	26	26	71
Never	301	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	318	31	31	31
No, would not	715	69	69	100
(Missing)	0	0	NA	NA

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Very conservative	152	15	15	15
Somewhat conservative	194	19	19	34
Moderate	399	39	39	72
Somewhat liberal	190	18	18	91
Very liberal	97	9	9	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	308	30	30	37
A few times a month	268	26	26	63
Once a month	90	9	9	72
Less than once a month	174	17	17	89
Not at all	113	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	243	24	24	24
No	790	76	76	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	769	74	74	74
No, did not vote in the 2020 general election	264	26	26	100

Z8: Vote choice in 2020

Which presidential candidate did you vote for in 2020?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Donald Trump	328	32	43	43
Joe Biden	413	40	54	96
Jo Jorgensen	12	1	2	98
Howie Hawkins	2	0	0	98
Another candidate	14	1	2	100
Did not vote in that election	1	0	0	100
(Missing)	264	26	NA	NA

Z9: own or rent

Is your home owned or rented?
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Owned	724	70	70	70
Rented	309	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	178	17	17	17
2	545	53	53	70
3	185	18	18	88
4	74	7	7	95
5	35	3	3	99
6	2	0	0	99
7	7	1	1	99
8 or more	6	1	1	100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	300	29	29	29
Lean Republican	155	15	15	44
Independent	103	10	10	54
Lean Democrat	165	16	16	70
Democrat	310	30	30	100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Republican	455	44	44	44
Independent	103	10	10	54
Democrat	475	46	46	100

gender

sex
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Male	493	48	48	48
Female	516	50	50	98
Another gender	11	1	1	99
Skipped/Ref	13	1	1	100

age

age, 4 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
18-29	198	19	19	19
30-44	267	26	26	45
45-59	248	24	24	69
60+	320	31	31	100

education

education - 5 categories
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Less than HS	88	8	9	9
HS graduate	294	29	29	37
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates	266	26	26	64
Bachelor's degree	194	19	19	83
Post grad study/professional degree	178	17	17	100
(Missing)	12	1	NA	NA

income

income recode
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k	247	24	24	24
$30k to less than $50k	189	18	18	42
$50k to less than $75k	172	17	17	59
$75k to less than $100k	160	15	15	74
$100k or more	265	26	26	100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
White	622	60	60	60
Black	122	12	12	72
Hispanic	182	18	18	90
Other/Multiple	93	9	9	99
Skipped/Ref	14	1	1	100

religious affiliation

religious identification
	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant	248	24	24	24
Mainline Protestant	155	15	15	39
Roman Catholic	193	19	19	58
No religion	300	29	29	87
Other religion	129	12	13	99
Skipped/Ref	5	1	1	100
(Missing)	3	0	NA	NA