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Marquette Law School Supreme Court Poll October 1 - 10, 2024

among all adults

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 106 11 11 11
Somewhat approve 343 34 34 45
Somewhat disapprove 297 30 30 74
Strongly disapprove 258 26 26 100
(Missing) 0 0 NA NA

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 449 45 45 45
Disapprove 556 55 55 100
(Missing) 0 0 NA NA

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 83 8 8 8
Quite a lot 189 19 19 27
Some 340 34 34 61
Very little 253 25 25 86
None at all 139 14 14 100

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 37 4 4 4
Quite a lot 91 9 9 13
Some 383 38 38 51
Very little 374 37 37 88
None at all 121 12 12 100

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 107 11 11 11
Quite a lot 158 16 16 26
Some 370 37 37 63
Very little 235 23 23 87
None at all 135 13 13 100

C5: Confidence in national news media

[The national news media] 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 43 4 4 4
Quite a lot 105 10 10 15
Some 321 32 32 47
Very little 267 27 27 73
None at all 268 27 27 100

C5B: Confidence in the Secret Service

[The U.S. Secret Service] 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 113 11 11 11
Quite a lot 199 20 20 31
Some 390 39 39 70
Very little 209 21 21 91
None at all 95 9 9 100

C6: 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 45 4 4 4
Probably a majority appointed by Democratic presidents 176 17 17 22
Probably a majority appointed by Republican presidents 430 43 43 65
Definitely a majority appointed by Republican presidents 354 35 35 100

C7: 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 193 19 19 19
A little 612 61 61 80
Nothing at all 200 20 20 100

C8: Justice motivations

In general, what most often motivates Supreme Court justices’ decisions?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Mainly politics 557 55 55 55
Mainly the law 448 45 45 100

C9: Justice ethical standards

[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 65 6 6 6
High 205 20 20 27
Average 384 38 38 65
Low 222 22 22 87
Very low 129 13 13 100

C10: Increase # of justices

[Increase the number of justices on the US Supreme Court] How much do you favor or oppose the following proposals affecting the Supreme Court?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 184 18 18 18
Somewhat favor 356 35 35 54
Somewhat oppose 220 22 22 76
Strongly oppose 245 24 24 100

C11: fixed terms

[Have judges serve a fixed term on the court rather than serving life terms] How much do you favor or oppose the following proposals affecting the Supreme Court?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 523 52 52 52
Somewhat favor 307 31 31 83
Somewhat oppose 109 11 11 93
Strongly oppose 66 7 7 100

C12: Enforce ethics code

[Enforce a strict ethics code for Supreme Court justices] How much do you favor or oppose the following proposals affecting the Supreme Court?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 629 63 63 63
Somewhat favor 271 27 27 90
Somewhat oppose 88 9 9 98
Strongly oppose 17 2 2 100

C13: Personal importance of next justice

How important is the choice of the next Supreme Court justice to you personally?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very important 482 48 48 48
Somewhat important 356 35 35 83
Not too important 141 14 14 97
Not at all important 25 3 3 100

C14: Presidential immunity

In July, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, while there is no immunity for unofficial acts, former presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts as president. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 141 14 14 14
Somewhat favor 250 25 25 39
Somewhat oppose 254 25 25 64
Strongly oppose 359 36 36 100

C15: Mifepristone restrictions

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court maintained access to a widely available abortion pill, mifepristone, rejecting a bid from a group seeking to undo the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the pill. How much do you favor or oppose this decision?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Strongly favor 392 39 39 39
Somewhat favor 275 27 27 66
Somewhat oppose 199 20 20 86
Strongly oppose 140 14 14 100
Skipped/Ref 0 0 0 100

C16: Same-sex marriage right

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 455 45 45 45
Somewhat favor 203 20 20 65
Somewhat oppose 154 15 15 81
Strongly oppose 193 19 19 100
Skipped/Ref 0 0 0 100

C17: Dobbs decision overturning 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 229 23 23 23
Somewhat favor 140 14 14 37
Somewhat oppose 143 14 14 51
Strongly oppose 491 49 49 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

C18: 2nd amendment expansion

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 402 40 40 40
Somewhat favor 301 30 30 70
Somewhat oppose 179 18 18 88
Strongly oppose 122 12 12 100

C19: 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 614 61 61 61
Somewhat favor 178 18 18 79
Somewhat oppose 142 14 14 93
Strongly oppose 72 7 7 100

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 237 24 24 24
Somewhat conservative 350 35 35 58
Moderate 319 32 32 90
Somewhat liberal 73 7 7 98
Very liberal 25 2 2 100

K4: family financial situation

Thinking about your family's financial situation, would you say you are living comfortably, just getting by, or struggling to make ends meet?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Living comfortably 343 34 34 34
Just getting by 431 43 43 77
Struggling 231 23 23 100

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 18 2 2 2
Most of the time 216 22 22 23
Only some of the time 622 62 62 85
Never 148 15 15 100

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 530 53 53 53
Most people can't be trusted 475 47 47 100

INT1: internet use

Do you use the internet or email, at least occasionally?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Yes 1005 100 100 100

INTFREQ: internet frequency

About how often do you use the internet?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Almost constantly 423 42 42 42
Several times a day 512 51 51 93
About once a day 41 4 4 97
Several times a week 24 2 2 99
Less often 5 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 291 29 29 29
Democrat 302 30 30 59
Independent 278 28 28 87
Other/No preference 134 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 380 38 64 64
Not very strong 213 21 36 100
(Missing) 412 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 151 15 37 37
Democratic 161 16 39 76
Neither 100 10 24 100
(Missing) 593 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 60 6 6 6
Once a week 167 17 17 23
Once or twice a month 69 7 7 29
A few times a year 137 14 14 43
Seldom 256 25 25 68
Never 317 32 32 100

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 288 29 29 29
No, would not 717 71 71 100

Z5: political ideology

Generally speaking, how would you describe your political views?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Very conservative 144 14 14 14
Somewhat conservative 230 23 23 37
Moderate 358 36 36 73
Somewhat liberal 162 16 16 89
Very liberal 111 11 11 100
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 82 8 8 8
A few times a week 277 28 28 36
A few times a month 289 29 29 64
Once a month 91 9 9 73
Less than once a month 151 15 15 88
Not at all 115 11 11 100
Skipped/Ref 0 0 0 100

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 226 22 23 23
No 775 77 77 100
(Missing) 4 0 NA NA

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 747 74 74 74
No, did not vote in the 2020 general election 257 26 26 100
Web blank 0 0 0 100

Z8: Vote choice in 2020

Which presidential candidate did you vote for in 2020?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Donald Trump 336 33 45 45
Joe Biden 368 37 49 94
Jo Jorgensen 10 1 1 96
Howie Hawkins 5 1 1 96
Another candidate 18 2 2 99
Did not vote in that election 9 1 1 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100
(Missing) 258 26 NA NA

Z9: own or rent

Is your home owned or rented?
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Owned 667 66 66 66
Rented 337 33 33 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

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
1 205 20 20 20
2 483 48 48 68
3 184 18 18 87
4 89 9 9 96
5 36 4 4 99
6 5 1 1 100
7 2 0 0 100
8 or more 1 0 0 100

party ID, 5-cat

Party ID with leaners separate
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 291 29 29 29
Lean Republican 151 15 15 44
Independent 100 10 10 54
Lean Democrat 161 16 16 70
Democrat 302 30 30 100

party ID, leaners as partisans

Party ID with leaners included
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Republican 442 44 44 44
Independent 100 10 10 54
Democrat 462 46 46 100

gender

sex
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Male 483 48 48 48
Female 500 50 50 98
Another gender 7 1 1 99
Skipped/Ref 14 1 1 100

age

age, 4 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
18-29 218 22 22 22
30-44 242 24 24 46
45-59 236 24 24 69
60+ 309 31 31 100

education

education - 5 categories
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than HS 88 9 9 9
HS graduate 283 28 28 37
Vocational/tech school/some college/ associates 261 26 26 63
Bachelor's degree 216 21 22 85
Post grad study/professional degree 153 15 15 100
(Missing) 5 0 NA NA

income

income recode
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Less than $30k 270 27 27 27
$30k to less than $50k 171 17 17 44
$50k to less than $75k 175 17 17 61
$75k to less than $100k 142 14 14 75
$100k or more 234 23 23 99
DK/NA/Ref 13 1 1 100

marital status

marital status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Married 490 49 49 49
Widowed 41 4 4 53
Divorced 113 11 11 64
Separated 24 2 2 66
Single, never married 208 21 21 87
Single, cohabitating 128 13 13 100
Skipped/Ref 1 0 0 100

race/ethnicity

race and hispanic origin
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
White 624 62 62 62
Black 113 11 11 73
Hispanic 165 16 16 90
Other/Multiple 89 9 9 99
Skipped/Ref 14 1 1 100

religious affiliation

religious identification
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Born-again Protestant 233 23 23 23
Mainline Protestant 199 20 20 43
Roman Catholic 146 15 15 58
No religion 294 29 29 87
Other religion 131 13 13 100
(Missing) 2 0 NA NA