ICYMI: New Annenberg Poll: Trust In U.S. Supreme Court Continues To Sink

Press Release / October 02, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCTOBER 2, 2024

CONTACT: [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–In response to new polling released by ​​The Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania conducted in July and August, Demand Justice Managing Director Maggie Jo Buchanan released the following statement: 

“This latest research underscores what we sadly already know: the politicized actions of the justices have shredded the public’s trust in the ability of the Court to faithfully serve the interests of the law and the American people.The Court’s recent, extremist decisions have not only dismantled our rights but shook the foundations of our democracy. Reform is critical to ensuring the Court actually serves the American people–not far-right interests.” 

Key takeaways from the poll include the following:

  • At 44%, trust of the Supreme Court is at its lowest overall since 2005, when APPC began these surveys and found 75% of the public trusted the court.
  • 56% of Americans “now disapprove of the Supreme Court, saying they trust it either ‘a little’ or ‘not at all’ to act in the best interest of ‘people like you.’” 
  • Americans show great support for a range of reforms to the Supreme Court:
    • 83% support “prohibiting justices from participating in cases in which they have personal or financial interests” 
    • 75% support the “creation of a formal ethics code that allows justices to be investigated if they are accused of an ethical violation”
    • 71% support a mandatory retirement age and 68% support term limits
  • The survey shows a dramatic decline in the public’s view of the court in swing states in particular. 

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