Supreme Court enjoys relatively high public confidence
A Gallup survey in June found 37 percent of Americans have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the court, while another 42 percent have "some" confidence. Only 18 percent have little or no confidence in the court.
Those are sterling marks compared with the court's neighbor on
Down
While the public's overall view of the court has remained steady over the past decade, there's been a shift this year as
That change comes after a just-concluded term in which retiring Justice
Trump's choice — a former Kennedy clerk,
But 41 percent of Americans think the court's ideological balance is about right.
A look at public opinion on some of the key issues facing the justices in the coming years:
ABORTION RIGHTS
Trump's nominee is sure to face an avalanche of questions about the court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that established a women's constitutional right to abortion. A majority of Americans thinks the court shouldn't overturn Roe and most think abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
In mid-June, before Kennedy's retirement announcement, a poll from the
The Kaiser poll's findings largely match results in others surveys on the topic, regardless of question wording or polling organization conducting the research.
TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN
In a 5-to-4 decision announced at the end of the court's recently concluded term, the
After the ruling, a
VOTING RIGHTS
Before the 2020 presidential elections, the court may revisit several cases it sent back to the lower courts this term that confront the fairness of electoral maps and issues related to voting rights.
Poll results on gerrymandering are limited, but a
A wide 83 percent majority said it is very important that no eligible voters are prevented from voting, while about two-thirds said it was very important that no ineligible voters are permitted to vote. Roughly three-quarters placed great importance on congressional districts being determined in a fair and reasonable way.
In assessing both issues, there is a clear partisan split.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND LGBT RIGHTS
The court will continue to face cases involving conflict between businesses that cite faith-based objections to laws aimed at protecting the rights of gay and lesbian people.
It's difficult for a survey questions to clearly and responsibly reflect the debate over specific gay-rights issues, such as businesses refusing services to same-sex couples or restroom policies as they relate to transgender people.
However, in
DEATH PENALTY
The
A modest 54 percent majority of Americans favor the death penalty, compared with 39 percent who are opposed. Support for the death penalty has fallen over the past two decades, though the shift in opinion is concentrated among
The court has not taken on a major gun rights case since 2010, but it may be more likely to do so with a new voice on the bench.
Earlier this year, a survey by the
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