Majority of Americans See Supreme Court as Ideologically Driven

A recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that most Americans believe Supreme Court justices are influenced by personal ideologies rather than serving as neutral government arbiters.

Survey Insights
The poll found that 7 in 10 Americans think justices are guided by their own beliefs, with only 3 in 10 believing in their impartiality. This view comes as the court is poised to rule on significant cases, including those involving former President Donald Trump.

Public Trust Levels
Confidence in the Supreme Court remains low. The survey of 1,088 adults shows that 4 in 10 have little faith in the justices, a figure consistent with previous polls. This distrust increased notably after the 2022 ruling overturning the right to abortion.

Perceptions Among Republicans
Despite the conservative majority’s significant decisions favoring Republican policies, many remain doubtful. Jeff Weddell, an independent voter from Michigan, expressed skepticism, stating, “No matter what they say on President Trump’s immunity, this will be politically motivated.”

Internal Divisions in the GOP
Republicans are split on their trust in the court. The poll indicates that about half have confidence in the court’s handling of key issues like gun policy, abortion, elections, and presidential power. Notably, Republican men tend to have more confidence in these matters than women.

Ideological Influences
Republicans believe that justices reflect the ideologies of their appointing presidents. Janette Majors from Washington voiced her concerns over reports of undisclosed gifts received by some justices, which erode her trust.

Views from Democrats and Independents
Democrats and independents are more critical. Approximately 8 in 10 Democrats and 7 in 10 independents think justices are ideologically driven and lack confidence in the court’s handling of abortion, gun policy, and presidential power.

Andie Near, a Democrat from Michigan, highlighted the politicization of the court in 2016 when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked hearings for President Obama’s nominee but expedited Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

Poll Methodology
The poll, conducted from June 20-24, 2024, utilized a sample from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, representing the U.S. population. The margin of error is ±4.0 percentage points.