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Supreme Court

Public Gives Supreme Court Passing Grade

50% approve of the job it is doing

October 3, 2008

Gallup finds 50% of Americans approving of the job the Supreme Court is doing, similar to recent years but a much better rating than for either President Bush or Congress.More ...

Trust in Government Remains Low

Only 26% are satisfied with way nation is being governed

September 18, 2008

Just 26% of Americans are satisfied with the way the nation is being governed. Public trust in the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the federal government’s ability to handle domestic problems are at or near record lows.More ...

Gallup Glance

October 2, 2007

Confidence in elections down in Pakistan, the economy's role in whether UK's Brown goes to the polls, and Americans say the Supreme Court is too conservative.

Who Do You Trust?

September 26, 2007

Gallup looks at Americans' trust in institutions.

Supreme Court Approval Rating Best in Four Years

Six in 10 approve of the job the court is doing

September 29, 2006

As the Supreme Court prepares to begin its new term next week, it is enjoying its highest approval rating since 2002, according to a recent Gallup Poll. In a shift from recent years, Americans are more likely to describe the Supreme Court as "too conservative" than "too liberal," though the greatest number continues to say it is "about right." Liberals are fairly consistent in the belief that the court is too conservative, while conservatives divide as to whether it is too liberal or about right.More ...

Support for the Death Penalty 30 Years After the Supreme Court Ruling

Two in three currently support it

June 30, 2006

Thirty years ago, the Supreme Court's Gregg v. Georgia decision effectively reinstated the death penalty in the United States. Americans' support for the death penalty, which had waned in the mid-1960s through 1970s, began to increase at about the time the case was being considered. Support continued to grow as the use of the death penalty expanded in the 1980s and 1990s, reaching a high of 80% in 1994. Since then, support has declined and leveled off, and today roughly two in three Americans favor the death penalty for convicted murderers.More ...

Public Supports Alito Nomination

Widespread opposition if Alito would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade; few think he would

January 24, 2006

Most Americans favor confirmation of Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice, and a plurality would find a Democratic filibuster against his nomination unjustified. Also, most Americans would oppose confirmation if they became convinced Alito would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, though a plurality of Americans think he would not do that.More ...

Alito Nomination: Public in Favor as Hearings Begin

Majority thinks his views in mainstream

January 10, 2006

Forty-nine percent of Americans favor and 30% oppose the Senate confirming Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted prior to the start of the hearings. Most Americans do not believe Alito's views are "too extreme," and fewer than one in three think he would be "too conservative" as a justice. However, the poll does show that a majority of Americans would oppose the nomination if they became convinced that he would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.More ...

Americans Generally Favor Alito Appointment

Closer to Roberts than to Miers in popularity

November 14, 2005

By a 2-to-1 margin, 50% to 25%, Americans say the Senate should vote to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Alito does not enjoy the same broad support that John Roberts initially garnered when he was named to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor back in July, but Alito's ratings surpass those of the former nominee, Harriet Miers.More ...

Alito's Ratings Similar to Miers', Lower Than Roberts'

Majority says Supreme Court nominee should be rejected if opposed to Roe v. Wade

November 2, 2005

Americans greet the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court with about the same degree of enthusiasm they had for Harriet Miers, but less enthusiasm than they had for John Roberts. About half the public believes Alito's views are mainstream, while a quarter think they are too extreme. Americans are evenly divided as to whether Alito would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, but if it becomes clear he would vote that way, a majority would oppose his confirmation.More ...

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Supreme Court

Public Gives Supreme Court Passing Grade

50% approve of the job it is doing

Trust in Government Remains Low

Only 26% are satisfied with way nation is being governed

Gallup Glance

Who Do You Trust?

Supreme Court Approval Rating Best in Four Years

Six in 10 approve of the job the court is doing

Support for the Death Penalty 30 Years After the Supreme Court Ruling

Two in three currently support it

Public Supports Alito Nomination

Widespread opposition if Alito would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade; few think he would

Alito Nomination: Public in Favor as Hearings Begin

Majority thinks his views in mainstream

Americans Generally Favor Alito Appointment

Closer to Roberts than to Miers in popularity

Alito's Ratings Similar to Miers', Lower Than Roberts'

Majority says Supreme Court nominee should be rejected if opposed to Roe v. Wade

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Alito's Experience a Plus With Public

Public More Pleased Than Disappointed by Miers' Withdrawal

Estimating Public Involvement: The Case of Roberts, Miers

Public Reaction to Miers Lukewarm

Public Divided Over Future Ideology of Supreme Court

Americans Would Concur With Roberts' Confirmation

Americans Support Roberts' Confirmation

Public Most Interested in Hearing Roberts' Views on Abortion

Verdict Still Favorable for Roberts

Public Supports Roberts Serving on U.S. Supreme Court