Blab Politics
Supreme Courts Popularity Holds Steady Amid Controversial Rulings, Marquette Poll Shows
On August 8, 2026, a Marquette Law School survey revealed that the U.S. Supreme Court’s national approval rating sits at 47 percent—slightly up from 46 percent in May and a bump from 42 percent in April. Disapproval remains higher at 53 percent, keeping the Court’s overall popularity below the 50‑percent line.
The figure is a modest lift from the Court’s 44‑percent rating during the same period in 2025 and only a touch above the 46 percent approval recorded after the Court’s February tariff decision. The data suggest a small, statistically indistinguishable rise that may be linked to the 6‑3 ruling on February 20 that struck down the tariff.
In a comparative glance, the Court outpaces other branches of government. President Donald Trump enjoys a 38 percent favorability rating, with 60 percent of respondents viewing him unfavorably. Congressional approval is lower still, with both Republican and Democratic members receiving scores well below the Court’s 47 percent. The two major parties likewise enjoy similarly low favorability.
The survey also probed public support for 13 high‑profile cases decided in the past year. All but two received majority approval. The tariff case drew 66 percent support; the ruling permitting states to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports garnered 65 percent; and Trump v. Cook, protecting the Federal Reserve Board’s independence, earned 70 percent approval. Louisiana v. Callais, a Voting Rights Act case criticized by left‑wing groups, received 53 percent support. The two cases that fell below a 50‑percent threshold were Trump v. Slaughter—which held that the president can remove heads of most independent agencies—at 49 percent, and a decision allowing parties to coordinate campaign expenditures with campaigns at 47 percent.
Methodological notes caution that the survey’s case descriptions were detailed, potentially confusing respondents with limited legal knowledge. All questions were forced‑choice, eliminating a “don’t know” option, which may have captured opinions from respondents who had no substantive view. The poll also omitted the Court’s refusal to review E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump—a decision that was not precedent‑setting—and included the E. Jean Carroll case as a major decision. Conversely, the poll omitted the Court’s ruling on Haitian temporary protected status, a case with significant humanitarian and legal implications.
Public knowledge of individual justices remains low. The poll found that only Clarence Thomas was known well enough for respondents to form an opinion; this is likely due to his long tenure, controversial confirmation hearings, and status as the only Black justice until 2022. For the other eight justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, the majority of respondents reported insufficient knowledge to form an opinion. A comparison with a YouGov poll shows similar patterns: 27 percent of respondents had no opinion on Thomas, while 35–44 percent had no opinion on the other justices.
In both surveys, liberal justices received higher favorability scores than conservative ones. Sonia Sotomayor was the most popular, with 29 percent favorable and 19 percent unfavorable in the Marquette poll, and 38 percent favorable versus 27 percent unfavorable in the YouGov poll. The most negatively rated justice in both surveys was Thomas, with modest negative scores of –3 percent in Marquette and –9 percent in YouGov.
The poll’s findings suggest that, despite the Court’s controversial rulings, its overall popularity remains higher than that of the executive and legislative branches. This relative favorability may provide a buffer against efforts to undermine judicial review from either side of the political spectrum. However, the Court’s low approval also indicates that public trust is fragile and that significant policy decisions can quickly erode support.
At present, the Supreme Court’s approval rating remains just below 50 percent, with no immediate changes expected. The Court continues to hear cases on a wide range of constitutional and statutory issues, and its decisions will likely continue to shape public opinion. The next major survey is scheduled for early 2027, which will provide insight into whether the Court’s popularity trend persists.
The figure is a modest lift from the Court’s 44‑percent rating during the same period in 2025 and only a touch above the 46 percent approval recorded after the Court’s February tariff decision. The data suggest a small, statistically indistinguishable rise that may be linked to the 6‑3 ruling on February 20 that struck down the tariff.
In a comparative glance, the Court outpaces other branches of government. President Donald Trump enjoys a 38 percent favorability rating, with 60 percent of respondents viewing him unfavorably. Congressional approval is lower still, with both Republican and Democratic members receiving scores well below the Court’s 47 percent. The two major parties likewise enjoy similarly low favorability.
The survey also probed public support for 13 high‑profile cases decided in the past year. All but two received majority approval. The tariff case drew 66 percent support; the ruling permitting states to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports garnered 65 percent; and Trump v. Cook, protecting the Federal Reserve Board’s independence, earned 70 percent approval. Louisiana v. Callais, a Voting Rights Act case criticized by left‑wing groups, received 53 percent support. The two cases that fell below a 50‑percent threshold were Trump v. Slaughter—which held that the president can remove heads of most independent agencies—at 49 percent, and a decision allowing parties to coordinate campaign expenditures with campaigns at 47 percent.
Methodological notes caution that the survey’s case descriptions were detailed, potentially confusing respondents with limited legal knowledge. All questions were forced‑choice, eliminating a “don’t know” option, which may have captured opinions from respondents who had no substantive view. The poll also omitted the Court’s refusal to review E. Jean Carroll’s lawsuit against Trump—a decision that was not precedent‑setting—and included the E. Jean Carroll case as a major decision. Conversely, the poll omitted the Court’s ruling on Haitian temporary protected status, a case with significant humanitarian and legal implications.
Public knowledge of individual justices remains low. The poll found that only Clarence Thomas was known well enough for respondents to form an opinion; this is likely due to his long tenure, controversial confirmation hearings, and status as the only Black justice until 2022. For the other eight justices, including Chief Justice John Roberts, the majority of respondents reported insufficient knowledge to form an opinion. A comparison with a YouGov poll shows similar patterns: 27 percent of respondents had no opinion on Thomas, while 35–44 percent had no opinion on the other justices.
In both surveys, liberal justices received higher favorability scores than conservative ones. Sonia Sotomayor was the most popular, with 29 percent favorable and 19 percent unfavorable in the Marquette poll, and 38 percent favorable versus 27 percent unfavorable in the YouGov poll. The most negatively rated justice in both surveys was Thomas, with modest negative scores of –3 percent in Marquette and –9 percent in YouGov.
The poll’s findings suggest that, despite the Court’s controversial rulings, its overall popularity remains higher than that of the executive and legislative branches. This relative favorability may provide a buffer against efforts to undermine judicial review from either side of the political spectrum. However, the Court’s low approval also indicates that public trust is fragile and that significant policy decisions can quickly erode support.
At present, the Supreme Court’s approval rating remains just below 50 percent, with no immediate changes expected. The Court continues to hear cases on a wide range of constitutional and statutory issues, and its decisions will likely continue to shape public opinion. The next major survey is scheduled for early 2027, which will provide insight into whether the Court’s popularity trend persists.
