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Monmouth University Poll. Sept. 21-25, 2022. N=806 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the job the U.S. Supreme Court is doing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/21-25/22

37 54 9    
 

7/28 - 8/1/22

37 59 5    
 

6/24-27/22

41 53 7    
 

5/5-9/22

38 52 10    
 

3/10-14/22

42 42 16    
 

9/9-13/21

42 45 12    
 

3/17-20/16

49 33 17    
             

"Is the current Supreme Court in touch or out of touch with the values and beliefs of most Americans?"

 
    In
touch
Out of
touch
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/21-25/22

34 59 7    
             

"How important is it for the Supreme Court to look like the racial, ethnic and gender composition of the country as a whole: very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?"

 
    Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not too
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

9/21-25/22

37 24 12 26 1
 

3/10-14/22

46 23 10 20 1
             

"The Supreme Court currently has nine justices. Would you support or oppose expanding the size of the Supreme Court?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/21-25/22

36 60 4    
 

6/24-27/22

38 56 6    
 

9/9-13/21

36 58 6    
             

"The Supreme Court is currently a lifetime appointment. Would you support or oppose creating term limits for Supreme Court justices?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/21-25/22

66 31 3    

 

Gallup Poll. Sept. 1-16, 2022. N=812 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/1-16/22

40 58 3    
 

7/5-26/22

43 55 2    
 

9/1-17/21

40 53 6    
 

7/6-21/21

49 44 7    
 

8/31 - 9/13/20

53 43 4    
 

7/1-23/20

58 38 4    
 

9/3-15/19

54 42 4    
 

9/4-12/18

51 40 8    
 

7/1-11/18

53 41 7    
 

9/6-10/17

49 40 10    
 

9/7-11/16

45 47 8    
 

7/13-17/16

42 52 6    
 

9/9-13/15

45 50 5    
 

7/8-12/15

49 46 5    
 

9/4-7/14

44 48 8    
 

7/7-10/14

47 46 7    
 

9/5-8/13

46 45 9    
 

7/10-14/13

43 46 11    
 

9/6-9/12

49 40 11    
 

7/9-12/12

46 45 9    
 

9/8-11/11

46 40 14    
 

9/13-16/10

51 39 10    
 

8/31 - 9/2/09

61 28 11    
 

6/14-17/09

59 30 11    
 

9/8-11/08

50 39 11    
 

6/9-12/08

48 38 14    
 

9/14-16/07

51 39 10    
 

5/10-13/07

51 36 13    
 

9/7-10/06

60 32 8    
 

9/12-15/05

56 36 8    
 

6/24-26/05

42 48 10    
 

9/13-15/04

51 39 10    
 

9/8-10/03

52 38 10    
 

7/7-9/03

59 33 8    
 

9/5-8/02

60 29 11    
 

9/7-10/01

58 28 14    
 

6/11-17/01

62 25 13    
 

1/10-14/01

59 34 7    
 

8/29 - 9/5/00

62 29 9    
             

"In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

9/1-16/22

18 42 38 3  
 

9/1-17/21

20 37 40 3  
 

8/31 - 9/13/20

23 32 42 3  
 

9/3-15/19

17 33 47 3  
 

7/1-11/18

21 29 44 6  
 

9/6-10/17

23 30 43 4  
 

9/7-11/16

37 20 39 4  
 

9/9-13/15

37 20 40 3  
 

9/4-7/14

30 24 43 4  
 

9/5-8/13

30 23 41 6  
 

9/6-9/12

27 23 44 7  
 

9/8-11/11

31 20 42 7  
 

7/27 - 8/1/10

32 19 43 6  
 

8/31 - 9/2/09

28 19 50 3  
 

9/8-11/08

21 30 43 6  
 

9/14-16/07

21 32 43 5  
 

9/7-10/06

21 31 43 6  
 

9/12-15/05

25 25 45 5  
 

9/13-15/04

28 27 40 5  
 

9/8-10/03

31 25 39 5  
 

9/7-10/01

22 25 46 7  
 

7/7-9/95

31 20 41 8  
 

6/18-21/93

22 24 45 9  

 

Fox News Poll conducted by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Aug. 6-9, 2022. N=1,002 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.
2006: Conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Supreme Court of the United States is doing?"
2006: "Do you approve or disapprove of the job the United States Supreme Court is doing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

8/6-9/22

41 55 4    
 

6/10-13/22

39 48 14    
 

7/12-15/20

54 31 15    
 

3/12-14/17

58 31 11    
 

7/15-17/12

45 45 10    
 

4/9-11/12

48 33 19    
 
 

1/24-25/06

50 30 20    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. May 12-16, 2022. N=1,586 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.5. Among registered voters, except where noted.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the United States Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/12-16/22 Adults

40 52 8    
 

2/10-14/22 Adults

40 47 13    
 

9/10-13/21 Adults

37 49 14    
 

7/9-13/20

52 37 10    
 

6/28 - 7/8/13

45 44 11    
 

7/1-8/12

47 41 12    
 

4/11-17/12

52 31 18    
 

4/14-19/10

49 33 18    
 

5/26 - 6/1/09

62 22 16    
 

7/8-13/08

39 43 18    
 

8/7-13/07

45 37 17    
 

4/25 - 5/1/07

58 27 15    
 

11/28 - 12/4/05

50 32 17    
 

7/21-25/05

50 39 11    
 

5/18-23/05

44 39 17    
 

12/7-12/04

50 33 17    
 

2/26 - 3/3/03

56 27 16    
             

"In general, do you think that the Supreme Court is mainly motivated by politics or mainly motivated by the law?"

 
    Politics The law Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/12-16/22 Adults

63 32 5    
 

2/10-14/22 Adults

61 32 6    
             

"Do you support or oppose limiting the number of years a Supreme Court justice can serve on the Supreme Court?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/12-16/22 Adults

69 27 4    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. March 31-April 4, 2022. N=1,436 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.6.

             

"As you may know, President Biden has nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Think it
should
Do not Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/31 - 4/4/22

52 33 15    
 

3/24-28/22

51 30 19    
 

3/10-14/22

52 24 24    
 

2/25-27/22

48 22 29    
             

"As you may know, it's been reported that Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, communicated with former President Donald Trump's chief of staff, urging him to pursue efforts to overturn Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Knowing that, do you think Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself and not participate in any cases that have to do with the 2020 presidential election, or not?"

 
    Think he
should
Do not Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/31 - 4/4/22

52 39 9    
             

"In your opinion, do you think the political activity of Ginni Thomas poses an ethical problem for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, or not?"

 
    Think it
does
Do not Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/31 - 4/4/22

47 39 13    

 

NBC News Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). March 18-22, 2022. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"As you may know, Joe Biden recently nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Ketanji Brown Jackson's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about her to say?"

 
    Strongly
support
Somewhat
support
Somewhat
oppose
Strongly
oppose
Do not know
enough
    % % % % %
 

3/18-22/22

25 11 6 11 46

 

Fox News Poll conducted by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). March 18-21, 2022. N=1,004 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"President Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. If you were voting on Jackson's nomination, would you vote to confirm her or not?"

 
    Would vote
to confirm
Would not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/18-21/22

56 35 9    

 

Monmouth University Poll. March 10-14, 2022. N=809 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may have heard, President Biden recently nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. From what you have heard of her experience, do you think she is very qualified, somewhat qualified, or not qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, or haven't you heard enough about her experience?"

 
    Very
qualified
Somewhat
qualified
Not
qualified
Haven't
heard enough
Refused
    % % % % %
 

3/10-14/22

33 14 9 43 1
             

"All in all, do you feel Ketanji Brown Jackson should or should not be confirmed as a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should
not
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/10-14/22

55 21 24    
             

"When he was campaigning for president, Joe Biden said that his first Supreme Court nomination would be a Black woman. Do you approve or disapprove of him making this a primary factor in his choice of nominee?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/10-14/22

53 41 6    
             

"Which of the following three statements do you agree with most? Having a Black woman on the Supreme Court will have a real impact on how cases are decided. Having a Black woman on the Supreme Court will have only a limited impact on how cases are decided. OR, Having a Black woman on the Supreme Court will not have any impact on how cases are decided."

 
    Real
impact
Limited
impact
Not any
impact
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

3/10-14/22

19 46 31 4  

 

Fox News Poll conducted by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). Jan. 16-19, 2022. N=1,001 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"For each of the following parts of the federal government, please tell me if you think it is doing a competent job, or not. ... The United States Supreme Court."

 
    Yes,
competent
No, not
competent
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

1/16-19/22

57 38 5    
             

"I am going to mention some policy proposals. For each one, please tell me if you favor or oppose the idea. ..."

 
    Favor Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 
 

"Establishing a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices"

 

1/16-19/22

69 29 2    
             
 

"Increasing the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court"

 

1/16-19/22

46 51 4    

 

NBC News Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). Oct. 23-26, 2021. N=approx. 500 adults nationwide. 2015 & earlier: NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll

             

"In general, do you the U.S. Supreme Court is too liberal or too conservative in its decisions?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right (vol.)
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

10/23-26/21

28 42 9 3 18
 

7/26-30/15

46 32 9 3 10
 

6/14-18/15

39 38 6 3 14
 

7/17-21/13

40 38 9 3 10
 

4/13-17/12

33 35 11 5 16
 

5/92

28 54 4 5 9

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. Sept. 10-13, 2021. N=1,210 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.8. Among registered voters, except where noted.

             

"Do you think the Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

9/10-13/21 Adults

19 34 34 13  
 

7/9-13/20

19 36 37 8  
 

5/16-20/19

16 35 39 11  
 

11/14-19/18

14 36 41 9  
 

6/27 - 7/1/18

19 31 41 9  
 

4/14-19/10

29 19 40 12  
 

7/8-13/08

25 31 33 10  
 

8/7-13/07

20 29 37 13  
 

2/26 - 3/3/03 Adults

19 26 46 10  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Oct. 6-9, 2020. N=879 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may know, Trump has nominated Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the current U.S. Senate should hold hearings and vote on her nomination, or should filling this seat on the Supreme Court be left to the winner of the presidential election and a Senate vote next year?"

 
    Current
Senate
Winner
and Senate
next year
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

10/6-9/20

44 52 5    

 

CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. Oct. 1-4, 2020. N=1,205 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.3.

             

"As you may know, Amy Coney Barrett is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Barrett serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Like them
to vote
in favor
Would
not
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/1-4/20

42 46 13    
             

"How would you describe your first impressions of Amy Coney Barrett? Would you say they are very positive, somewhat positive, neither positive nor negative, somewhat negative, or very negative?"

 
    %        
 

Very positive

24        
 

Somewhat positive

14        
 

Neither

25        
 

Somewhat negative

16        
 

Very negative

13        
 

No opinion

8        
             

"From what you know about Amy Coney Barrett, as a Supreme Court justice, do you think she would be too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
Just about
right
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

10/1-4/20

4 43 41 12  
             

"Do you think Barrett should or should not promise to recuse herself from any cases which could affect the outcome of this year's presidential election?"

 
    Should
promise to
recuse
herself
Should
not
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/1-4/20

56 34 10    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Sept. 21-24, 2020. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may know, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last Friday, creating an opening on the Supreme Court. Do you think her replacement should be nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the current U.S. Senate, or should this be left to the winner of the presidential election and a Senate vote next year?"

 
    Trump
and current
Senate
Winner
and Senate
next year
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

38 57 4    
 

Men

45 50      
 

Women

31 64      
 

Democrats

7 90      
 

Republicans

80 16      
 

Independents

34 61      
             

"Would you support or oppose increasing the number of U.S. Supreme Court justices, which would give the winner of the presidential election more influence over the court's makeup?"

 
    Support Oppose Depends
who wins
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

9/21-24/20

32 54 2 12  

 

CBS News Poll. May 29-June 2, 2020. N=1,309 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/29 - 6/2/20

38 43 20    
 

2/14-16/16

49 37 14    
 

6/10-14/15

41 40 19    
 

5/31 - 6/4/13

44 40 16    
 

3/20-24/13

44 38 18    
 

7/11-16/12

41 41 18    
 

5/31 - 6/3/12

44 36 20    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. May 16-20, 2019. N=1,078 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

             

"In general, do you think that the Supreme Court is mainly motivated by politics or mainly motivated by the law?"

 
    Mainly
politics
Mainly
the law
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/16-20/19

55 38 8    
 

6/27 - 7/1/18

50 42 7    
             

"Do you think that the Supreme Court should be restructured in order to reduce the influence of politics, or don't you think so?"

 
    Think it
should be
Don't
think so
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/16-20/19

51 39 11    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. April 26-29, 2019. N=1,044 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you think that Supreme Court justices are too influenced by politics, or don't you think so?"

 
    Are too
influenced
Don't
think so
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

4/26-29/19

59 35 6    
             

"Do you think that the process of confirming Supreme Court justices is too political, or don't you think so?"

 
    Is too
political
Don't
think so
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

4/26-29/19

81 15 4    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Oct. 8-11, 2018. N=1,144 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the U.S. Senate's vote to confirm Trump's nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

10/8-11/18

41 51 8    
             

"With Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, do you think the court's rulings will be more politically motivated than in the past, less politically motivated, or will having him on the court make no difference?"

 
    More Less No
difference
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

10/8-11/18

43 10 39 8  
             

"Do you think the Senate committee handling Kavanaugh's nomination did or did not do enough to investigate allegations that he committed sexual misconduct in high school and college?"

 
    Did do
enough
Did not do
enough
Went too
far (vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

10/8-11/18

41 50 3 6  
             

"Would you support or oppose further investigation of Kavanaugh by Congress, which could potentially lead to an effort to remove him from the court?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 

10/8-11/18

53 43 5    

 

CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. Oct. 4-7, 2018. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.8.

             

"As you may know, Brett Kavanaugh is the federal judge appointed to serve on the Supreme Court. Did you want to see the Senate vote in favor of Kavanaugh serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"
Prior to 10/6/18 Senate confirmation vote: "As you may know, Brett Kavanaugh is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Kavanaugh serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote in
favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/4-7/18

41 51 8    
 

9/6-9/18

38 39 23    
 

8/9-12/18

37 40 22    
             

"Next, thinking about Kavanaugh himself: How would you describe your impressions of him -- would you say they are very positive, somewhat positive, neither positive nor negative, somewhat negative, or very negative?"

 
    %        
 

Very positive

24        
 

Somewhat positive

11        
 

Neither

14        
 

Somewhat negative

14        
 

Very negative

33        
 

No opinion

4        
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in the U.S. Senate have handled Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"
Prior to 10/6/18 Senate confirmation vote: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in the U.S. Senate are handling Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/4-7/18

35 55 10    
 

9/6-9/18

34 45 22    
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the U.S. Senate have handled Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"
Prior to 10/6/18 Senate confirmation vote: "Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the U.S. Senate are handling Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/4-7/18

36 56 8    
 

9/6-9/18

34 45 21    
             

"As you may know, Brett Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual assault or misconduct by women who knew him in high school or college. Kavanaugh has denied those accusations and said that he has never committed sexual assault or misconduct. Who do you tend to believe: the women who have made these charges, or Brett Kavanaugh?"

 
    The women Kavanaugh Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/4-7/18

52 38 10    
             

"Do you think that during his confirmation hearings, Brett Kavanaugh lied about his alcohol use as a young adult, or do you think he was telling the truth?"

 
    Lied Was telling
the trust
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

10/4-7/18

50 37 13    

 

NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. Oct. 1, 2018. N=1,183 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.8.

             

"Overall, do you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of Brett Kavanaugh?"

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Never heard
of/Unsure
   
    % % %    
 

10/1/18

36 47 18    
 

Men

41 40 19    
 

Women

31 53 17    
 
 

9/22-24/18

31 37 32    
 

Men

38 33 29    
 

Women

25 41 34    
             

"Overall, do you have a favorable or an unfavorable impression of Christine Blasey Ford?"

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Never heard
of/Unsure
   
    % % %    
 

10/1/18

41 32 27    
 

Men

38 35 27    
 

Women

45 29 27    
 
 

9/22-24/18

20 24 56    
 

Men

21 22 57    
 

Women

19 25 55    
             

"College professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has accused Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her at a party when they were both in high school. Both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Who do you think is telling the truth about what happened at the party in high school: Christine Blasey Ford or Brett Kavanaugh?"

 
    Christine
Blasey Ford
Brett
Kavanaugh
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

45 33 22    
 

Men

37 39 24    
 

Women

52 27 21    
             

"This week the FBI is investigating the sexual assault charges during a party in high school described by Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh. If there still is a doubt about whether the charges are true, do you think Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, or should not be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

40 52 8    
 

Men

46 47 7    
 

Women

34 58 8    
 
 

Registered voters:

 

ALL

42 51 7    
 

Democrats

9 84 7    
 

Republicans

77 16 7    
 

Independents

42 51 7    
             

"Overall, do you support or oppose the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 

10/1/18

41 48 11    
 

Men

48 41 12    
 

Women

35 54 11    
 
 

9/22-24/18

38 43 19    
 

Men

45 39 16    
 

Women

32 47 21    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. Sept. 27-30, 2018. N=1,111 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

             

"As you may know, President Trump has nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Think
they should
Don't think
they should
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

42 48 9    
 

Republicans

84 9 8    
 

Democrats

8 88 5    
 

Independents

39 49 12    
 

Men

49 40 11    
 

Women

37 55 8    
 
 

9/6-9/18

41 42 17    
 

8/9-13/18

44 39 17    
 

7/18-23/18

40 41 18    
             

"As you may know, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has accused Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school. Judge Kavanaugh has denied this accusation. If you had to choose, which do you tend to believe most: the accusation of sexual assault made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, or the denial made by Judge Brett Kavanaugh?"

 
    Ford's
accusation
Kavanaugh's
denial
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

48 41 11    
 

Republicans

10 84 5    
 

Democrats

86 5 9    
 

Independents

46 38 15    
 

Men

40 47 13    
 

Women

55 35 10    
             

"In general, would you say that Brett Kavanaugh is honest, or not?"

 
    Would say
he's honest
Would
not
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

46 43 11    
 

Republicans

87 8 5    
 

Democrats

11 77 12    
 

Independents

43 44 13    
 

Men

54 34 12    
 

Women

39 50 11    
             

"In general, would you say that Christine Blasey Ford is honest, or not?"

 
    Would say
she's honest
Would not Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

59 25 16    
 

Republicans

31 48 21    
 

Democrats

87 5 8    
 

Independents

60 24 16    
 

Men

52 27 21    
 

Women

65 23 12    
             

"In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate Democrats are handling the accusations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

38 52 10    
 

Republicans

11 83 6    
 

Democrats

70 18 12    
 

Independents

36 54 10    
 

Men

36 56 8    
 

Women

40 48 12    
             

"In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate Republicans are handling the accusations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

33 56 10    
 

Republicans

62 25 13    
 

Democrats

9 82 8    
 

Independents

31 60 9    
 

Men

38 54 8    
 

Women

29 58 13    
             

"In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump is handling the accusations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

42 49 9    
 

Republicans

77 13 11    
 

Democrats

13 83 4    
 

Independents

39 50 11    
 

Men

48 44 8    
 

Women

36 54 10    
             

"Do you think that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has been treated fairly or unfairly since she came forward?"

 
    Fairly Unfairly Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

48 41 11    
 

Republicans

63 25 12    
 

Democrats

31 59 10    
 

Independents

53 40 8    
 

Men

54 36 9    
 

Women

42 46 13    
             

"Do you think that Judge Brett Kavanaugh has been treated fairly or unfairly since Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward?"

 
    Fairly Unfairly Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

43 47 9    
 

Republicans

14 82 4    
 

Democrats

72 16 12    
 

Independents

45 47 8    
 

Men

41 52 8    
 

Women

46 43 11    
             

"Do you support or oppose re-opening the FBI background check into Judge Kavanaugh in order to investigate the accusations of sexual misconduct?"

 
    Support Oppose Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

68 28 4    
 

Republicans

41 54 5    
 

Democrats

90 7 3    
 

Independents

71 26 3    
 

Men

65 29 6    
 

Women

71 27 2    
             

"Do you think that Judge Kavanaugh is the target of a politically motivated smear campaign, or don't you think so?"

 
    Think
he is
Don't
think so
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

49 45 6    
 

Republicans

83 12 5    
 

Democrats

15 81 4    
 

Independents

53 43 4    
 

Men

56 38 6    
 

Women

43 51 5    

 

Gallup Poll. Sept. 24-30, 2018. N=1,462 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Now turning to the U.S. Supreme Court: As you may know, Brett Kavanaugh is a federal judge who has been nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Kavanaugh serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Would like
Senate to
vote in favor
Would not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

9/24-30/18

46 45 9    
 

9/10-16/18

39 42 19    
 

8/20-26/18

40 36 24    
 

7/10-15/18

41 37 22    

 

NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll. Sept. 22-24, 2018. N=997 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.9.

             

"If the charge of sexual assault during a party in high school by Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh is true, do you think Brett Kavanaugh should be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court, or should not be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

29 59 12    
 

Men

31 59 9    
 

Women

27 59 14    
 
 

Registered voters:

 

ALL

31 58 11    
 

Democrats

12 79 9    
 

Republicans

54 32 14    
 

Independents

31 57 11    
             

"Who do you think is telling the truth about what happened at the party in high school: Christine Blasey Ford or Brett Kavanaugh?"

 
    Christine
Blasey Ford
Brett
Kavanaugh
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

32 26 42    
 

Men

28 32 39    
 

Women

35 20 45    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). Sept. 16-19, 2018. N=900 registered voters nationwide.

             

"Now I'm going to read you the names of several terms, public figures, and groups and I'd like you to rate your feelings toward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don't know one, please just say so. ... Brett Kavanaugh." Asked Sept. 17-19; N=622.

 
    9/17-19/18        
    %        
 

Very positive

19        
 

Somewhat positive

8        
 

Neutral

16        
 

Somewhat negative

11        
 

Very negative

19        
 

Don't know/Not sure

27        
             

"As you may know, Donald Trump recently nominated Brett Kavanaugh to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Brett Kavanaugh's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about him to say?" Asked of half the sample on Sept. 16, full sample Sept. 17-19.

 
    9/16-19/18 8/18-22/18      
    % %      
 

Strongly support

25 22      
 

Somewhat support

9 11      
 

Somewhat oppose

11 10      
 

Strongly oppose

27 19      
 

Do not know enough

28 37      
 

Unsure

- 1      

 

Public Religion Research Institute. Aug. 22-Sept. 2, 2018. N=1,856 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.7.

             

"Do you think Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court will vote to uphold the constitutional right to abortion, or will he vote to overturn it?"

 
    Uphold it Overturn it Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

8/22 - 9/2/18

25 48 27    

 

CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. Sept. 6-9, 2018. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.8.

             

"As you may know, Brett Kavanaugh is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Kavanaugh serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Would like
Senate to
vote in favor
Would not Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

9/6-9/18

38 39 23    
 

8/9-12/18

37 40 22    
             

"Based on what you have heard or read about him, do you think Brett Kavanaugh's views on important issues are in the mainstream, or do you think they are too extreme?"

 
    In the
mainstream
Too
extreme
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

9/6-9/18

39 37 25    
 

8/9-12/18

42 35 23    
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in the U.S. Senate are handling Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

9/6-9/18

34 45 22    
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in the U.S. Senate are handling Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

9/6-9/18

34 45 21    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Aug. 26-29, 2018. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6.

             

"Trump has nominated Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should
not
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

8/26-29/18

38 39 23    
             

"Do you think Kavanaugh should or should not publicly state his position on abortion before being approved by the U.S. Senate for the job?"

 
    Should Should
not
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

8/26-29/18

59 31 10    

 

CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. Aug. 9-12, 2018. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.9.

             

"Democrats in the Senate say that they need to see more documents from Brett Kavanaugh's career in government before they are willing to vote on his nomination. Do you think that the federal government should have to provide Senate Democrats with more documents, or do you think the Senate Democrats have enough information now to vote? If you have no opinion, please just say so."

 
    Should
provide more
Have
enough now
No opinion Refused  
    % % % %  
 

8/9-12/18

41 27 31 1  
             

"Do you, personally, think that the Congress elected in November should be the one to confirm the justice who will fill the seat, or do you think that the current Congress should handle the confirmation?"

 
    Congress
elected in
November
Current
Congress
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

8/9-12/18

44 45 11    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. July 18-23, 2018. N=1,177 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you think that Brett Kavanaugh would make the Supreme Court too conservative, or not?"

 
    Yes, too
conservative
Don't
think so
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

7/18-23/18

45 38 17    

 

Pew Research Center. July 11-15, 2018. N=1,007 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

             

"How much, if anything, have you heard about Donald Trump's choice of Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court justice? Have you heard a lot, a little, or nothing at all?"

 
    A lot A little Nothing
at all
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

7/11-15/18

40 36 24 1  
             

"How important is the choice of the next Supreme Court justice to you personally: very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?"
2010 & earlier: "How important is the president's choice of the next Supreme Court justice to you personally...?"

 
    Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not too
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/11-15/18

63 20 9 7 1
 

3/17-26/16

56 27 11 5 1
 

2/18-21/16

57 24 8 9 2
 

4/21-26/10

40 32 14 11 3
 

11/3-6/05

47 28 13 11 1
             

"From what you've seen and heard so far, do you think the Senate should or should not confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should
confirm
Should not
confirm
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

7/11-15/18

41 36 23    
             

"Do you worry that Brett Kavanaugh would make the Supreme Court too conservative, not conservative enough, or don't you worry about this?"

 
    Too
conservative
Not
conservative
enough
Don't worry
about this
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

7/11-15/18

31 11 46 12  
             

"When senators ask Supreme Court nominees questions about issues like abortion that may come before the court, do you think nominees should be required to answer those questions, or do you think nominees should be allowed to not comment on those questions?"

 
    Required
to answer
Allowed to
not comment
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

7/11-15/18

61 33 5    
             

"If Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to sit on the Supreme Court, do you think he would vote to overturn the Roe versus Wade decision that established a woman's right to an abortion, or don't you think he would vote to overturn the Roe versus Wade decision?"

 
    Think he
would vote
to overturn
Don't think he
would vote
to overturn
Doesn't
matter (vol.)
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

7/11-15/18

39 29 4 27  

 

Gallup Poll. July 2-8, 2018. N=1,291 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Suppose a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court is qualified and has no ethical problems. Do you think U.S. senators would be justified -- or unjustified -- in voting against that nominee if they disagree with the nominee's stance on current issues such as abortion, gun control, or affirmative action?"

 
    Justified Unjustified Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/2-8/18

49 46 5    
 

1/14-16/05

51 46 3    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. June 27-July 1, 2018. N=1,020 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

             

"President Trump has the opportunity to make a nomination to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Kennedy. Would you like to see him make the court more conservative, more liberal, or keep the present balance?"

 
    More
conservative
More
liberal
Keep
present
balance
Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

6/27 - 7/1/18

31 29 35 5  
             

"If President Trump nominates a Supreme Court justice before the November midterm election, do you think the Senate should consider that nomination, or do you think the Senate should not consider any Supreme Court nomination until after the election?"

 
    Consider
nomination
Not until
after the
election
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

6/27 - 7/1/18

46 48 6    
             

"Do you think it was the right thing or the wrong thing for the Senate Republicans to change the Senate rules so that all Supreme Court nominees can be confirmed with 51 votes instead of 60 votes?"

 
    Right
thing
Wrong
thing
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

6/27 - 7/1/18

33 55 12    
 

4/12-18/17

35 55 10    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. March 30-April 3, 2017. N=1,171 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.9.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of President Trump's nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/30 - 4/3/17

48 35 17    
 

2/16-21/17

50 31 19    
 

2/2-6/17

50 30 20    
             

"Do you think the U.S. Senate should confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/30 - 4/3/17

50 35 15    
             

"The current rules of the U.S. Senate allow a filibuster to be used on a vote to confirm a Supreme Court nominee, which means it would require 60 votes instead of 51 to confirm the nominee. In most cases, this allows the minority party to have a say on the Supreme Court nominee. Do you think it would be a good idea to change this rule and allow a Supreme Court nominee to be confirmed with 51 votes, or do you think it would be a bad idea to change this rule?"

 
    A good idea A bad idea Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/30 - 4/3/17

25 67 8    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). Feb. 18-22, 2017. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"As you may know, Donald Trump recently nominated Neil Gorsuch to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Neil Gorsuch's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about him to say?"

 
    %        
 

Strongly support

21        
 

Somewhat support

11        
 

Somewhat oppose

9        
 

Strongly oppose

11        
 

Do not know enough

47        
 

Unsure

1        

 

Pew Research Center. Feb. 7-12, 2017. N=1,503 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.9.

             

"How much, if anything, have you heard about Donald Trump's choice of Neil Gorsuch to be the next Supreme Court justice? Have you heard a lot, a little, or nothing at all?"

 
    A lot A little Nothing
at all
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

2/7-12/17

40 36 23 1  
             

"From what you've seen and heard so far, do you think the Senate should or should not confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

2/7-12/17

44 32 24    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. Feb. 2-6, 2017. N=1,155 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.9.

             

"Do you think that Senate Democrats should allow a vote on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, or prevent a vote on the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Allow
a vote
Prevent
a vote
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

2/2-6/17

65 25 11    
             

"Do you think Senate Republicans were right or wrong to prevent for 10 months a vote on Merrick Garland, who was President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Right to
prevent
Wrong to
prevent
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

2/2-6/17

33 56 11    

 

CBS News Poll. Feb. 1-2, 2017. N=1,019 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"In general, do you want the next Supreme Court justice to be someone who is a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative?"

 
    Liberal Moderate Conservative Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

2/1-2/17

21 36 34 9  
             

"As you may know, Neil Gorsuch has been nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Is Neil Gorsuch more conservative than you would like, not conservative enough, or about right, or don't you know enough about Neil Gorsuch yet to say?"

 
    More
conservative
Not
conservative
enough
About
right
Don't know
enough yet
to say
Unsure/
No answer
    % % % % %
 

2/1-2/17

15 2 18 64 1
             

"What do you think right now? Should the Senate vote to confirm Neil Gorsuch as a justice of the U.S Supreme Court, vote against Neil Gorsuch, or can't you say?"

 
    Vote to
confirm
Vote
against
Can't say Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

2/1-2/17

27 14 56 3  

 

CNN/ORC Poll. Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2017. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"As you may know, Neil Gorsuch is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Gorsuch serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote
in favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

1/31 - 2/2/17

49 36 15    
             

"Next, thinking about Gorsuch himself, how would you describe your first impressions of him? Would you say they are very positive, somewhat positive, neither positive or negative, somewhat negative, or very negative?"

 
    %        
 

Very positive

21        
 

Somewhat positive

18        
 

Neither

31        
 

Somewhat negative

16        
 

Very negative

8        
 

Unsure

5        
             

"From what you know about Neil Gorsuch, as a Supreme Court justice, do you think he would be too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
Just about
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

1/31 - 2/2/17

7 34 49 10  
             

"Suppose all or most of the Democrats in the Senate oppose Gorsuch's nomination. Do you think they would be justified, or not justified, in using Senate procedures, such as the filibuster, to prevent an up-or-down vote on the nominee?"

 
    Justified Not
justified
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

1/31 - 2/2/17

51 41 8    

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. May 13-17, 2016. N=1,300 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Barack Obama has nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. What do you think the Senate should do? Should the Senate hold a vote on whether to confirm Merrick Garland, or should the Senate wait until next year for the new president to nominate someone?"

 
    Vote on
Garland
Wait for new
president
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

5/13-17/16

48 45 7    
 

Republicans

22 72 6    
 

Democrats

69 26 5    
 

Independents

46 44 11    
 
 

3/17-20/16

53 42 5    
 

Republicans

32 65 2    
 

Democrats

75 21 4    
 

Independents

48 45 7    

 

CNN/ORC Poll. April 28-May 1, 2016. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"As you may know, Merrick Garland is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Garland serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote
in favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/28 - 5/1/16

52 33 15    
 

3/17-20/16

52 33 15    
             

"Do you think the Republican leadership in the Senate should or should not hold confirmation hearings to evaluate Garland as a potential Supreme Court justice?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/28 - 5/1/16

67 28 5    
 

3/17-20/16

64 31 5    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). April 10-14, 2016. N=1,000 registered voters nationwide.

             

"Recently, a Supreme Court Justice passed away leaving a vacancy on the court. President Obama has nominated a new person to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Would you prefer the U.S. Senate vote this year on the replacement nominated by President Obama or leave the position vacant and wait to vote next year on the replacement nominated by the new president or do you not have an opinion one way or the other?" Half sample (Form A)
2/16 & 3/16: "Recently, a Supreme Court justice passed away leaving a vacancy on the court. President Obama will nominate a new person to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Would you prefer the U.S. Senate vote this year on the replacement nominated by President Obama, or leave the position vacant and wait to vote next year on the replacement nominated by the new president, or do you not have an opinion one way or the other?"

 
    Vote
this year
Wait for new
president
Do not have
an opinion
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/10-14/16

52 30 18 -  
 

3/3-6/16

48 37 14 1  
 

2/14-16/16

43 42 15 -  
             

"The U.S. Constitution requires the president to nominate a candidate to fill an opening on the Supreme Court. The U.S. Senate has the responsibility to confirm or reject a nominee. Republicans who control the Senate say they will not hold confirmation hearings and have no plans to consider a nominee put forward by President Obama. Do you approve or disapprove of this decision not to consider President Obama's nominee, or do you not have an opinion one way or the other?" Half sample (Form B)

 
    Approve Disapprove Do not have
an opinion
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/10-14/16

32 52 16 -  
 

3/3-6/16

28 55 16 1  

 

Pew Research Center. March 17-27, 2016. N=2,254 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.4.

             

"From what you've seen and heard so far, do you think the Senate should or should not confirm Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

3/17-27/16

46 30 24    

 

Bloomberg Politics Poll conducted by Selzer & Company. March 19-22, 2016. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"Turning now to some judicial issues, President Obama has nominated Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to the Supreme Court to fill the current vacancy. Do you think Republicans in the U.S. Senate are right or wrong to refuse to hold confirmation hearings on any Obama nominee, no matter the person or qualifications?"

 
    Right Wrong Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/19-22/16

27 62 11    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. March 16-21, 2016. N=1,451 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.6.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/16-21/16

48 27 25    
             

"Do you think the Senate should consider the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, or do you think the Senate should not consider any Supreme Court nomination until there is a new president?"

 
    Should
consider
Garland
Should wait
for new
president
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/16-21/16

62 33 5    

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. March 17-20, 2016. N=1,252 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"How important to you, personally, is the issue of which judges sit on the Supreme Court? Is this issue extremely important, very important, somewhat important, or not at all important?"

 
    Extremely
important
Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not at all
important
Unsure/
No answer
    % % % % %
 

3/17-20/16

37 31 22 8 1
             

"As you may know, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in February. How closely would you say you have been following news about the appointment of the next Supreme Court justice: very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all closely?"

 
    Very
closely
Somewhat
closely
Not very
closely
Not at all
closely
Unsure/
No answer
    % % % % %
 

3/17-20/16

29 34 18 18 1
             

"Is your opinion of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Merrick Garland yet to have an opinion?"

 
    Favorable Not
favorable
Undecided Haven't heard
enough
Unsure/
No answer
    % % % % %
 

3/17-20/16

21 7 15 55 1
             

"As you may know, Senate Republican leaders have said they will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court justice nominated by Barack Obama because they want to wait until the next president is in office. Do you think Senate Republican leaders are doing this mostly for political reasons or mostly because they think it is the best thing for the country?"

 
    Political
reasons
It's best for
the country
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

3/17-20/16

73 23 3    

 

CNN/ORC Poll. March 17-20, 2016. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Suppose confirmation hearings are held and they indicate that Garland is qualified and has no ethical problems. Do you think U.S. Senators would be justified or not justified in voting against him because they think the president elected in November should be the one to appoint the justice who will fill this seat?"

 
    Justified Not
justified
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/17-20/16

37 58 5    
             

"And how about you? Do you, personally, think that the president elected in November should be the one to appoint the justice who will fill the seat, or do you think that President Obama should make the appointment?" Options rotated

 
    President
Obama
The next
president
Depends on
who is
elected (vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

3/17-20/16

57 40 1 2  

 

Monmouth University Poll. March 17-20, 2016. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"Which of the following statements comes closer to your view? The sitting president has the
power to nominate Supreme Court justices and the Senate should consider those
nominations even if they occur at the very end of a president's term. OR, Supreme Court
vacancies that occur at the end of a president's term should be put on hold so that voters
can consider the potential nomination when deciding who to elect as the next president."

 
    Senate
should
consider
Vacancies
should be
put on hold
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/17-20/16

53 43 5    
             

"As you may have heard, President Obama recently nominated Merrick Garland to fill the
current vacancy on the Supreme Court. Now that the nomination has been made, do you
think the U.S. Senate should or should not hold hearings to consider Obama's nominee?"

 
    Should
hold hearings
Should not
hold hearings
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

69 25 6    
 

Republicans

56 39 4    
 

Independents

66 25 8    
 

Democrats

85 12 3    
             

"Do you think the Senate Republicans who say they will refuse to hold hearings on the
nomination are doing this more to give the American people a voice in the process or more
because they are playing politics?"

 
    To give people
a voice
Playing
politics
Both (vol.) Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

3/17-20/16

16 77 3 4  

 

Gallup Poll. March 18-19, 2016. N=1,019 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"Now turning to the U.S. Supreme Court, as you may know, Merrick Garland is a federal judge who has been nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Garland serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote
in favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/18-19/16

52 29 19    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. March 3-6, 2016. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has opened a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. After Obama nominates someone to replace Scalia, do you think the Senate should hold hearings and vote on whether to accept the nomination, or should the Senate NOT hold hearings, which would block the nomination and leave it to the next president?" Options rotated

 
    Should
hold hearings
Should not
hold hearings
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/3-6/16

63 32 5    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by Hart Research Associates (D) and Public Opinion Strategies (R). March 3-6, 2016. N=1,200 registered voters nationwide.

             

"And, if this situation were reversed and there were a Republican president in office, do you think that Democrats in the Senate would do the same thing and refuse to consider a Supreme Court candidate nominated by a Republican president?" Half sample (Form B)

 
    Yes No Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/3-6/16

62 29 9    

 

CNN/ORC Poll. Feb. 24-27, 2016. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"As you may know, the death of Justice Antonin Scalia has created a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Do you think Barack Obama should nominate someone to fill the vacancy, or should the seat remain vacant until a new president takes office in January 2017?"

 
    Obama
should
nominate
Wait for
a new
president
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

58 41 2    
 

Democrats

82 18 -    
 

Independents

59 38 3    
 

Republicans

29 69 2    
             

"President Obama has said that he will nominate someone to fill the vacancy. Do you think the Republican leadership in the Senate should or should not hold hearings on the nominee?"

 
    Should Should not Depends
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

ALL

66 32 1 2  
 

Democrats

60 38 1 1  
 

Independents

69 27 1 4  
 

Republicans

67 32 - -  
             

"Would you like to see President Obama nominate a new justice who would make the Supreme Court more liberal than it currently is, more conservative than it currently is, or keep the Court as it was?" Options rotated

 
    More
liberal
More
conservative
Keep Court
as it was
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

2/24-27/16

32 29 37 2  
             

"Suppose all or most of the Republicans in the Senate oppose Obama's nominee. Do you think they would be justified, or not justified, in using Senate procedures, such as the filibuster, to prevent an up-or-down vote on the nominee?"

 
    Justified Not
justified
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

2/24-27/16

48 47 5    

 

Pew Research Center. Feb. 18-21, 2016. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.7.

             

"How much if anything, have you heard about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and the vacancy on the court? Have you heard a lot, a little, or nothing at all?"

 
    A lot A little Nothing
at all
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

2/18-21/16

45 26 26 3  
             

"In thinking about how the Senate should deal with the Supreme Court vacancy, which of the following statements comes closer to your view? Do you think the Senate should hold hearings and vote on whomever President Obama nominates, or not hold hearings until the next president selects a nominee?" Options rotated

 
    Hold hearings
on Obama's
nominee
Wait for
the next
president
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

56 38 6    
 

Republicans

29 66 5    
 

Democrats

79 17 3    
 

Independents

56 37 7    
             

"Thinking about Justice Scalia, can you tell me if he was generally considered a [see below]?"

 
    Liberal Moderate Conservative Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

2/18-21/16

9 11 55 25  

 

CBS News Poll. Feb. 14-16, 2016. N=951 adults nationwide.

             

"As you may know, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away. Would you like to see the next Supreme Court justice appointed by President Obama before the election in November or appointed by the president who will be elected in November?"

 
    Appointed
by Obama
Appointed
by next
president
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

ALL

47 46 7    
 

Republicans

15 82 3    
 

Democrats

77 19 5    
 

Independents

46 43 11    

 

Gallup Poll. Sept. 9-13, 2015. N=1,025 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"As you know, our federal government is made up of three branches: an executive branch, headed by the president; a judicial branch, headed by the U.S. Supreme Court; and a legislative branch, made up of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. (First,) let me ask you how much trust and confidence you have at this time in the judicial branch, headed by the U.S. Supreme Court: a great deal, a fair amount, not very much, or none at all?"

 
    Great deal Fair amount Not very
much
None at all Unsure
    % % % % %
 

9/9-13/15

11 42 31 16 -
 

9/4-7/14

10 51 30 9 1
 

9/5-8/13

13 49 28 9 1
 

9/6-9/12

14 53 27 4 2
 

9/8-11/11

12 51 28 8 1
 

9/13-16/10

14 52 28 5 2

 

Pew Research Center. July 14-20, 2015. N=2,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.5.

             

"Would you say your overall opinion of the Supreme Court is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly UNfavorable, or very unfavorable?"

 
    Very/Mostly
favorable
Mostly/Very
unfavorable
Never
heard of
(vol.)
Can't rate/
Refused
(vol.)
 
    % % % %  
 

7/14-20/15

48 43 - 9  
 

3/25-29/15

50 39 1 11  
 

7/8-14/14

52 38 1 9  
 

4/23-27/14

56 35 - 9  
 

7/17-21/13

48 38 1 13  
 

3/13-17/13

52 31 2 15  
 

12/5-9/12

53 36 1 10  
 

6/28 - 7/9/12

51 37 1 11  
 

4/4-15/12

52 29 - 18  
 

7/1-3 & 5/10

58 25 1 16  
 

2/3-9/10

58 27 - 15  
 

3/31 - 4/6/09

64 21 0 15  
 

4/08

65 25 - 10  
 

7/07

57 29 0 14  
 

1/07

72 17 2 9  
 

7/06

63 27 1 9  
 

2/06

60 28 - 12  
             

"In your view, do you think the current Supreme Court is conservative, middle of the road, or liberal?"

 
    Conservative Middle of
the road
Liberal Unsure/
Refused
(vol.)
 
    % % % %  
 

7/14-20/15

18 39 36 6  
 

3/25-29/15

28 38 26 8  
 

7/8-14/14

27 38 26 8  
 

4/23-27/14

25 35 31 8  
 

7/17-21/13

23 42 26 9  
 

3/13-17/13

22 40 24 14  
 

6/28 - 7/9/12

24 41 23 12  
 

7/1-3 & 5/10

23 39 23 14  
 

4/21-26/10

24 36 24 16  
 

7/07

36 35 14 15  

 

CNN/ORC Poll. June 26-28, 2015. N=1,017 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/26-28/15

37 20 40 3  
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

30 22 46 2  
             

"Is Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts more conservative than you would like, not conservative enough, or about right, or don't you know enough about John Roberts to say?"

 
    More
conservative
Not
conservative
enough
About
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/26-28/15

10 10 15 64  

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. June 10-14, 2015. N=1,007 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

6/10-14/15

27 22 35 16  
             

"In general, do you think the current U.S. Supreme Court justices decide their cases based on legal analysis without regard to their own personal or political views, or do you think they sometimes let their own personal or political views influence their decisions?"

 
    Just legal
analysis
Personal,
political
views
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

6/10-14/15

16 75 2 7  
 

5/31 - 6/4/13

20 68 3 9  
 

5/31 - 6/3/12

13 76 4 7  
             

"When the Supreme Court decides an important constitutional case, should it only consider the legal issues, or should it also consider what the majority of the public thinks about that subject?"

 
    Legal
issues only
Public
opinion, too
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure/
No answer
 
    % % % %  
 

6/10-14/15

52 40 3 5  
 

3/20-24/13

46 45 5 4  
 

7/29 - 8/2/05

49 42 4 5  
 

7/13-14/05

48 46 3 3  
 

9/87

32 60 4 4  

 

CNN/ORC Poll. May 29-31, 2015. N=1,025 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"We'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts."

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Heard of/
No opinion
Never
heard of
 
    % % % %  
 

5/29-31/15

33 24 16 27  
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

41 24 14 21  
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/29-31/15

52 41 7    
 

6/11-13/13

48 48 4    
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

53 43 4    
 

4/13-15/12

50 41 9    
             

"For each of the following issues, please say how much you trust the U.S. Supreme Court to handle them. Do you trust the Supreme Court to handle that a great deal, a moderate amount, just some or not at all? ..."

 
    A great
deal
A moderate
amount
Just some Not at all Unsure
    % % % % %
 
 

"Freedom of speech"

 

5/29-31/15

33 36 17 14 1
 
 

"Voting rights"

 

5/29-31/15

31 34 17 17 1
 
 

"The death penalty"

 

5/29-31/15

23 37 18 21 1
 
 

"Health care policy"

 

5/29-31/15

13 37 22 27 1
 
 

"Same-sex marriage"

 

5/29-31/15

18 31 17 32 2

 

CNN/ORC Poll. Dec. 18-21, 2014. N=1,011 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"In general, do you think that the country's criminal justice system treats whites and blacks equally, or does it favor whites over blacks?"

 
    Treats
equally
Favors
whites
Favors
blacks (vol.)
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

12/18-21/14

41 51 1 6 1

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Dec. 11-14, 2014. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you think blacks and other minorities receive equal treatment as whites in the criminal justice system or not?"

 
    Receive equal treatment Do not
receive equal
treatment
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

12/11-14/14

43 54 4    
 

7/18-21/13

45 50 6    
 

4/5-8/12

37 55 7    

 

Public Religion Research Institute. Nov. 25-30, 2014. N=1,011 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6.

             

"Please tell me if you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly DISagree or completely disagree with the following statement: Blacks and other minorities receive equal treatment as whites in the criminal justice system."

 
    Completely
agree
Mostly
agree
Mostly
disagree
Completely
disagree
Unsure/
Refused
    % % % % %
 

11/25-30/14

17 29 30 23 2

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. June 28-July 8, 2013. N=2,014 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.2.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Roberts is handling his job as chief justice of the Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/28 - 7/8/13

38 31 31    
 

7/1-8/12

46 34 20    
 

4/14-19/10

49 21 30    

 

USA Today Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. June 27-30, 2013. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/27-30/13

43 44 13    
             

"In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/27-30/13

31 21 37 11  

 

Public Religion Research Institute. May 15-19, 2013. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"When the Supreme Court decides an important constitutional case, should it only consider the legal issues, or should it also consider what the majority of the public thinks about that subject?"

 
    Only legal
issues
Public
opinion, too
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

5/15-19/13

47 45 3 5  
             

"In general, how much do you think the Supreme Court justices are influenced by their own political views when making their decisions: a lot, a little, or not at all?"

 
    A lot A little Not at all Depends
(vol.)
Unsure/
Refused
    % % % % %
 

5/15-19/13

55 32 8 1 4
             

"And how much do you think Supreme Court justices are influenced by their own religious beliefs when making their decisions: a lot, a little, or not at all?"

 
    A lot A little Not at all Depends
(vol.)
Unsure/
Refused
    % % % % %
 

5/15-19/13

37 44 15 1 4

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. April 25-29, 2013. N=1,471 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.6.

             

"In general, do you think terrorist suspects should be tried in civilian courts or military courts?"

 
    Civilian
courts
Military
courts
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

4/25-29/13

30 58 12    
             

"Do you think the American criminal justice system is capable of dealing with terrorism or do you believe it allows terrorist suspects too many rights?"

 
    Capable Too many
rights
Unsure/
No answer
   
    % % %    
 

4/25-29/13

35 53 13    

 

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). March 17-19, 2013. N=1,002 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.
2010 & earlier: Conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp. LV = likely voters.

             

"Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea to allow television coverage of sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    Good idea Bad idea Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/17-19/13

77 18 5    
 
 

5/4-5/10

69 22 9    
 

9/26-27/06 LV

63 25 13    
 

4/4-5/06

70 18 11    

 

CNN/ORC Poll. June 28-July 1, 2012. N=1,517 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.5.

             

"We'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts."

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Heard of/
No opinion
Never
heard of
 
    % % % %  
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

41 24 14 21  
 

Democrats

51 12 14 23  
 

Independents

39 26 13 22  
 

Republicans

30 38 16 16  
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

53 43 4    
 

Democrats

73 24 3    
 

Independents

53 43 5    
 

Republicans

31 65 4    
             

"In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
No opinion  
    % % % %  
 

6/28 - 7/1/12

30 22 46 2  
 

Democrats

6 35 58 1  
 

Independents

31 22 45 2  
 

Republicans

59 7 32 2  

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. May 31-June 3, 2012. N=976 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Which opinion comes closer to your own? Appointing Supreme Court justices for life is a good thing because it helps keep them independent from political pressures. OR, Appointing Supreme Court justices for life is a bad thing because it gives them too much power."

 
    A good thing A bad thing Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/31 - 6/3/12

33 60 7    

 

Fox News Poll conducted by Anderson Robbins Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R). April 9-11, 2012. N=910 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.
2010 & earlier: Conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corp.

             

"Do you think the United States Supreme Court is generally too liberal, too conservative, or about right in its decisions?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
About
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/9-11/12

26 21 45 8  
 
 

4/20-21/10

27 16 46 10  
 

1/24-25/06

28 17 42 13  
 

6/30 - 7/1/03

30 20 37 13  

 

CNN/ORC Poll. March 24-25, 2012. N=1,014 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Do you think that the U.S. Supreme Court should or should not allow television cameras into their courtroom when they hear arguments in their cases?"

 
    Should
allow
Should not
allow
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

3/24-25/12

61 35 4    

 

Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. Feb. 29-March 5, 2012. N=1,208 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

               

"I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one: a great deal, quite a lot, some, or very little? What about the U.S. Supreme Court?"

 
    A great
deal
Quite a lot Some Very little None (vol.) Unsure/
Refused
    % % % % % %
 

2/29 - 3/5/12

10 13 47 26 3 1
               

"Next, I'd like to ask you some questions about the U.S. Supreme Court. In general, do you think the current Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?"

 
    Too
liberal
Too
conservative
Just about
right
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % % %    
 

2/29 - 3/5/12

26 26 38 10    

 

Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll. Jan. 12-17, 2012. N=1,206 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Next I'd like to ask you some questions about the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the Supreme Court justices usually decide their cases based on legal analysis without regard to politics and ideology, or do you think they sometimes let their own ideological views influence their decisions?"

 
    Legal
analysis only
Sometimes
ideology
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

1/12-17/12

17 75 9    

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Dec. 6, 2011. N=1,011 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4. Interviews conducted as part of Gallup Daily tracking.

             

"As you may know, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments next year on President Obama's health care law. Do you think that the Court should or should not allow television cameras into the courtroom when they hear arguments in this case?"

 
    Should
allow
Should
not allow
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

12/6/11

72 24 4    

 

Time Poll conducted by Abt SRBI. June 20-21, 2011. N=1,003 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"What about the U.S. Supreme Court? In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

6/20-21/11

47 34 19    
             

"How closely would you say that you follow major decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court: very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or don't you really follow them at all?"

 
    Very
closely
Somewhat
closely
Not very
closely
Not at all Unsure/
Refused
    % % % % %
 

6/20-21/11

15 54 22 8 1
             

"Some people say that the courts should strictly follow the original intent of the founding fathers -- that the federal government should be permitted to do ONLY what's exactly spelled out in the Constitution or was the intent of the framers of the Constitution. Others say that times have changed and that the Court should interpret the Constitution based upon changes in society, technology, and the U.S. role in the world. Which comes closest to your view if you had to choose: only what's exactly spelled out in the Constitution, or interpretations based on changes in society?"

 
    Spelled out/
Intent of
the framers
Based on
changes in
society
Unsure/
Refused
   
    % % %    
 

6/20-21/11

41 54 4    
             

"Would you say that Supreme Court decisions over the past few years have been too conservative, too liberal, or about right?"

 
    Too
conservative
Too liberal About right Unsure/
Refused
 
    % % % %  
 

6/20-21/11

24 30 36 10  

 

Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University. Sept. 22-Oct. 3, 2010. N=2,054 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.5.

             

"Do you think the U.S. Supreme Court should base its rulings on its understanding of what the U.S. Constitution meant as it was originally written, or should the court base its rulings on its understanding of what the U.S. Constitution means in current times?" Options rotated

 
    As it was
originally
written
What it means
in current
times
Somewhere
in between
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

9/22 - 10/3/10

50 46 1 3  
 

7/05

46 50 3 1  

 

AP-National Constitution Center Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. Aug. 11-16, 2010. N=1,007 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.5.

             

"Do you think the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court have an impact on your daily life, or do you think that the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court don't really affect your daily life?"

 
    Have an
impact
Don't
really affect
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

8/11-16/10

72 26 2    
             

"Do you think the U.S. Supreme Court justices usually decide their cases based on legal analysis without regard to partisan politics, or do you think they sometimes let their own partisan political views influence their decisions?"

 
    Usually
legal analysis
Sometimes
political views
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

8/11-16/10

19 78 4    

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. July 27-Aug. 1, 2010. N=1,208 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"As you may know, Solicitor General Elena Kagan is the person nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Kagan serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote
in favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/27 - 8/1/10

46 36 18    
 

7/8-11/10

44 34 22    
 

5/24-25/10

46 32 22    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. July 16-21, 2010. N=1,018 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"As you may know, Elena Kagan is the person nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Kagan serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 

    Vote in
favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/16-21/10

54 34 12    
 

Democrats

76 12 12    
 

Independents

48 40 12    
 

Republicans

36 50 14    

 

 

6/16/10

44 39 17    
 

5/21-23/10

54 36 11    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. July 13-19, 2010. N=2,181 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.1.

             

"Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/13-19/10

46 34 20    
 

5/19-24/10

48 30 22    

 

CBS News Poll. July 9-12, 2010. N=966 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"How closely would you say you have been following news about the appointment of U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court: very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all closely?"

 
    Very
closely
Somewhat
closely
Not very
closely
Not at all
closely
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/9-12/10

8 33 28 30 1
             

"What do you think right now? Should the Senate vote to confirm Elena Kagan as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, or vote against Kagan, or can't you say?"

 
    Vote to
confirm
Vote against Can't say Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

7/9-12/10

21 19 53 7  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. July 7-11, 2010. N=1,288 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may know, Obama has nominated U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/7-11/10

53 25 22    
 

6/3-6/10

58 24 18    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. June 29-30, 2010. N=900 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"I'm going to read you the names of several individuals. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you've never heard of someone, please just say so. Elena Kagan."

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Can't say Never
heard of
 
    % % % %  
 

6/29-30/10

24 17 19 40  
             

"President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. If you were voting on Kagan's nomination, would you vote to confirm her or not?"

 
    Confirm Not confirm Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/29-30/10

38 36 26    
 

Democrats

64 12 25    
 

Republicans

12 61 27    
 

Independents

38 35 27    

 

 

5/18-19/10

39 29 33    
 

Democrats

57 11 32    
 

Republicans

21 51 28    
 

Independents

36 25 39    
             

"President Obama has already had the opportunity to fill two of the nine seats on the U.S. Supreme Court because of retirements. Four justices are currently over 70 years old. Would you rather they retire while President Obama is in office so he can nominate more justices, or would you rather they wait until his successor takes office and not give President Obama that opportunity?"

 
    Retire while
Obama in
office
Wait until
successor
takes office
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/29-30/10

34 54 13    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). June 17-21, 2010. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"As you may know, Barack Obama recently nominated Elena Kagan to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Elena Kagan's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about her to say?"

 
    Strongly
support
Somewhat
support
Somewhat
oppose
Strongly
oppose
Don't know
enough
    % % % % %
 

6/17-21/10

11 18 9 14 47
 

5/20-23/10

14 17 11 10 47

 

Pew Research/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, sponsored by the Society for Human Resource Management. June 17-20, 2010. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"From what you've seen and heard so far, do you think the Senate should or should not confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/17-20/10

33 25 42    
 

5/13-16/10

33 21 46    
             

"What is your impression of Elena Kagan? Do you think she is liberal, moderate, or conservative?" Options rotated

 
    Liberal Moderate Conservative Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/17-20/10

28 24 7 41  

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 16, 2010. N=534 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"What do you think is more likely to occur during the Senate confirmation hearings for Kagan: a relatively easy process in which Republicans and Democrats come to an agreement, or a major fight between Republicans and Democrats that would drag on for a long time?"

 
    Relatively
easy process
Major fight Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/16/10

37 61 3    

 

AP-GfK Poll conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media. June 9-14, 2010. N=1,044 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.3.

             

"As you may know, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is retiring, and President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to replace him. Is your opinion of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan favorable, unfavorable, or haven't you heard enough about Elena Kagan yet to have an opinion?"

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Haven't
heard
enough
   
    % % %    
 

6/9-14/10

20 17 63    
             

"Do you think the U.S. Senate should confirm or should not confirm Elena Kagan as a Supreme Court justice?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure Refused  
    % % % %  
 

6/9-14/10

43 26 30 1  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 3-6, 2010. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may know, Obama has nominated U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/3-6/10

58 24 18    
             

"At her confirmation hearing, do you think Kagan should or should not answer questions about how she would have ruled on past cases that have come before the Supreme Court?" Half sample

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/3-6/10

66 29 5    
             

"Do you think Kagan should or should not publicly state her position on abortion before being approved by the U.S. Senate for the job?" Half sample

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/3-6/10

54 42 5    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. May 21-23, 2010. N=1,023 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Based on what you have heard or read about Elena Kagan, do you think she is among the most qualified people who could serve on the Supreme Court, is she qualified to serve on the Supreme Court but many others are more qualified, or is she not qualified to serve on the Supreme Court?"

 
    Among most
qualified
Qualified Not qualified Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/21-23/10

15 63 19 4  
             

"Thinking about Elena Kagan's background, does each of the following make you more likely to support her nomination, does it make no difference to you, or does it make you less likely to support her nomination? ..."

 
    More likely
to support
No
difference
Less likely
to support
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 
 

"She has worked closely with Barack Obama on legal issues"

 

5/21-23/10

26 44 30 1  
 
 

"When she was a law school dean, she barred military recruiters from campus because the U.S. did not allow openly gay people to serve in the military"

 

5/21-23/10

19 40 39 1  
 
 

"She is a woman"

 

5/21-23/10

16 80 5 -  
 
 

"Her views on most major issues are not known"

 

5/21-23/10

9 37 53 1  
 
 

"She has never served as a judge"

 

5/21-23/10

8 40 52 1  
             

"From what you know about Elena Kagan, as a Supreme Court justice, do you think she would be too liberal, too conservative, or just about right?" N=524 (Form A), MoE ± 4.5

 
    Too liberal Too
conservative
Just about
right
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/21-23/10

40 6 50 4  
             

"Based on what you have heard or read about her, do you think Elena Kagan's views on important issues are in the mainstream or do you think they are too extreme?" N=499 (Form B), MoE ± 4.5

 
    Mainstream Too
extreme
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/21-23/10

54 36 10    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. May 19-24, 2010. N=1,914 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.2.

             

"Should senators support or oppose Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court based only on whether she is qualified to be a justice, or should they also consider her views on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage?"

 
    Qualifications
only
Also views
on issues
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/19-24/10

43 43 14    
             

"If senators did not agree with Elena Kagan on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage, do you think they would be justified, or not justified in using the filibuster to prevent her nomination from coming to a vote?"

 
    Justified Not justified Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/19-24/10

37 50 13    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. May 18-19, 2010. N=900 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"From what you know about Elena Kagan, would you say she is more of a liberal, or a conservative?" Options rotated

 
    Liberal Conservative Moderate
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/18-19/10

46 10 7 37  
             

"Overall, do you think Elena Kagan is qualified to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court or not?"

 
    Qualified Not qualified Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/18-19/10

45 26 29    
             

"Do you think the Senate will confirm Elena Kagan or not?"

 
    Will Will not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/18-19/10

70 8 22    
             

"Do you think Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has been treated fairly or unfairly by the press?"

 
    Fairly Unfairly Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/18-19/10

50 23 27    
             

"Do you think the public has the right to know about the private life of anyone nominated to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Does Does not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

5/18-19/10

61 34 4    
             

"Do you think all Supreme Court justices should have prior experience as a judge or is it a good idea if some Supreme Court justices don't have prior experience as a judge?"

 
    All should
have
experience
Good if some
don't have
experience
Doesn't
matter
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/18-19/10

62 28 7 3  
             

"How do you think the U.S. Supreme Court should interpret the Constitution? No matter what the outcome, the court should follow what the Framers meant when they wrote the Constitution. If necessary, the court should ignore what the Framers meant to reach the outcome it feels is appropriate for today."

 
    Follow the
Framers, no
matter what
Ignore the
Framers, if
necessary
In between/
Combination
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/18-19/10

60 29 7 5  
 

5/12-13/09

60 26 8 6  

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). May 6-10, 2010. N=1,000 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

             

"How much confidence do you have that President Obama will select the right kind of person to sit on the Supreme Court: a great deal, quite a bit, some, very little, or none at all?"

 
    A great deal Quite a bit Some Very little None at all
    % % % % %
 

5/6-10/10

27 17 18 14 23

 

Gallup Poll. May 10, 2010. N=1,004 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"Generally speaking, how would you rate Obama's choice of Elena Kagan as a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court -- as excellent, good, only fair, or poor?"

 
    Excellent Good Only fair Poor Unsure
    % % % % %
 

5/10/10

13 27 22 14 24

 

Gallup Poll. May 3-6, 2010. N=1,029 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"Would you like to see President Obama nominate a new justice who would make the Supreme Court more liberal than it currently is, more conservative than it currently is, or who would keep the Court as it is now?"

 
    More
liberal
More
conservative
Keep as it
is now
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

5/3-6/10

27 42 24 6  
             

"Which of the following best describes your view about whether the next Supreme Court justice is [see below]? Do you think it is essential that the next justice is [see below], is it a good idea but not essential, does it not matter to you, or do you think it is a bad idea?"

 
    Essential A good idea,
not essential
Doesn't
matter
A bad idea Unsure
    % % % % %
 

"A woman"

 

5/3-6/10

4 20 72 3 1
 

5/7-10/09

6 26 64 3 1
 

10/28-30/05

14 33 50 2 1
 

9/26-28/05

14 29 55 1 1
 
 

"Hispanic"

 

5/3-6/10

1 12 76 9 1
 

5/7-10/09

1 21 68 8 1
 

9/26-28/05

3 23 69 4 1
 
 

"Black"

 

5/3-6/10

1 13 82 3 1
 

5/7-10/09

1 21 74 3 1
 

9/26-28/05

5 21 71 2 1
             

"As you may know, when Justice John Paul Stevens retires, none of the eight remaining Supreme Court justices will be of a Protestant religion. Which best describes your view about whether John Paul Stevens' replacement on the Supreme Court is Protestant? Do you think it is essential that the next justice is Protestant, is it a good idea but not essential, does it not matter to you, or do you think it is a bad idea?" Options rotated

 
    Essential A good idea,
not essential
Doesn't
matter
A bad idea Unsure
    % % % % %
 

5/3-6/10

7 22 66 3 2

 

Pew Research Center survey. April 21-26, 2010. N=1,546 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Just your impression: Over the past two decades, do you think the Supreme Court has become more conservative, become more liberal, or has it stayed about the same?"

 
    More
conservative
More liberal About the
same
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/21-26/10

19 28 43 10  
             

"In making his appointments to the Supreme Court, should President Obama nominate people who will make the court more liberal, people who will make it more conservative, or people who will keep the court about the same as it is now?"

 
    More liberal More
conservative
About the
same
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/21-26/10

27 28 35 10  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. April 22-25, 2010. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Do you think the Supreme Court tends to be too conservative or too liberal in its decisions, or is it generally balanced in its decisions?"

 
    Too
conservative
Too liberal Balanced Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/22-25/10

21 26 46 7  
 

7/18-21/07

31 18 47 4  
 

7/05

19 22 55 4  
 

7/95

22 22 54 3  
             

"How comfortable are you with Barack Obama selecting the next U.S. Supreme Court nominee: very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, not very comfortable or not at all comfortable?"

 
    Very
comfortable
Somewhat
comfortable
Not very
comfortable
Not at all
comfortable
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

4/22-25/10

36 29 12 21 2
             

"For each item I name, please tell me whether to you personally it would be a factor in favor of a Supreme Court nominee, a factor against a Supreme Court nominee, or not a factor one way or the other. What if the nominee is [see below]?"

 
    In favor Against Not a factor Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

"A woman" Half sample (Form A)

 

4/22-25/10

15 3 81 1  
 
 

"Gay or lesbian" Half sample (Form A)

 

4/22-25/10

4 25 71 0  
 
 

"Protestant" Half sample (Form A)

 

4/22-25/10

7 5 83 4  
 
 

"African-American" Half sample (Form B)

 

4/22-25/10

16 3 81 -  
 
 

"Someone with experience as a judge" Half sample (Form B)

 

4/22-25/10

70 5 24 1  
 
 

"Someone with experience outside the legal profession, for example in the field of business
or politics"
Half sample (Form B)

 

4/22-25/10

35 26 38 1  
             
 

If experience outside the legal profession would be a factor in favor:
"Which would be preferable to you for a Supreme Court nominee: someone with experience in business, or in politics?"

 
    Business Politics Both (vol.) Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/22-25/10

56 36 6 1  
             

"The Supreme Court legalized abortion 37 years ago in the ruling known as Roe versus Wade. If that case came before the court again, would you want the next justice to vote to uphold Roe versus Wade, or vote to overturn it?" Options rotated
6/10: "The Supreme Court legalized abortion 36 years ago in the ruling known as Roe versus Wade. If that case came before the court again, would you want Sotomayor to vote to uphold Roe versus Wade, or vote to overturn it?"

 
    Uphold Overturn Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/22-25/10

59 38 3    
 
 

6/18-21/09

60 34 6    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. April 20-21, 2010. N=900 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens recently announced he will resign at the end of his term, which will give Barack Obama his second chance to nominate a Supreme Court justice. I'm going to read a list of qualities that might be considered when selecting a new justice. For each one, please tell me whether you think it should be the single most important factor, should be a factor but not the most important, shouldn't matter, or should be a disqualifying factor?" Options rotated

 
    Single most
important
factor
A factor Shouldn't
matter
A
disqualifying
factor
Unsure
    % % % % %
 
 

"The nominee having served as a judge"

 

4/20-21/10

20 56 20 2 2
 
 

"The nominee being a constitutional scholar"

 

4/20-21/10

20 52 23 1 3
 
 

"The nominee being an attorney"

 

4/20-21/10

11 49 36 2 2
 
 

"The nominee being a woman"

 

4/20-21/10

2 12 83 2 1
 
 

"The nominee being a minority"

 

4/20-21/10

2 12 82 3 1
 
 

"The nominee being a homosexual"

 

4/20-21/10

1 8 73 15 3
             

"Would it matter to you if there weren't any justices with a Protestant religious background on the Supreme Court?"

 
    Yes No Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/20-21/10

27 70 3    
             

"I'm going to read you a list of characteristics and affiliations and I'd like you to tell me whether or not you would be comfortable with a Supreme Court Justice who has that characteristic or affiliation. Would you be comfortable with a justice who is [see below] or not?"

 
    Would be
comfortable
Would not be
comfortable
Unsure    
    % % %    
 
 

"A Mormon"

 

4/20-21/10

65 30 5    
 
 

"A Christian who takes the Bible literally"

 

4/20-21/10

62 35 3    
 
 

"A libertarian"

 

4/20-21/10

57 32 11    
 
 

"A Muslim"

 

4/20-21/10

43 53 4    
 
 

"An atheist"

 

4/20-21/10

39 58 3    
 
 

"A socialist"

 

4/20-21/10

31 64 5    

 

Quinnipiac University Poll. April 14-19, 2010. N=1,930 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.2.

             

"Do you think the United States Supreme Court is moving in the right direction or the wrong direction?"

 
    Right
direction
Wrong
direction
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

35 37 28    
 

7/8-13/08

33 42 25    
 

8/7-13/07

39 37 25    
             

"As you may know, Justice John Paul Stevens is retiring from the Supreme Court. How confident are you that President Obama will make the right decision about who should replace Justice Stevens on the Supreme Court: very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not confident at all?"

 
    Very
confident
Somewhat
confident
Not too
confident
Not confident
at all
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

4/14-19/10

27 26 18 28 2
             

"Who do you trust more to make the right decisions about who should sit on the United States Supreme Court: President Obama or the Republicans in the United States Senate?"

 
    President
Obama
Senate
Republicans
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

46 43 11    
             

"Do you think President Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court will be more liberal than you would like, not liberal enough, or about right?"

 
    More liberal Not liberal
enough
About right Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

4/14-19/10

42 8 42 8  
             

"Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Approve Disapprove Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

52 32 16    
 

6/23-29/09

54 26 20    
 

5/26 - 6/1/09

55 25 20    
             

"Which comes closer to your point of view? In making decisions, the Supreme Court should only consider the original intentions of the authors of the Constitution. OR, In making decisions, the Supreme Court should consider changing times and current realities in applying the principles of the Constitution."

 
    Original
intentions
Current
realities
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

49 42 9    
 

7/8-13/08

40 52 8    
 

8/7-13/07

43 48 9    
 

7/21-25/05

44 50 6    
 

5/18-23/05

42 51 8    
 

2/26 - 3/3/03 Adults

39 54 7    
             

"Do you think Supreme Court justices make their decisions solely based on the law, or do you think their political views enter into their decisions?"

 
    Solely
the law
Political
views
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

16 78 6    
             

"Should senators support or oppose President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court based only on whether he or she is qualified to be a justice, or should they also consider his or her views on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage?"

 
    Qualifications
only
Views on
issues, too
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

47 43 10    
             

"If senators did not agree with President Obama's Supreme Court nominee on controversial issues like abortion and gay marriage, do you think they would be justified, or not justified in using the filibuster to prevent the nomination from coming to a vote?"

 
    Justified Not justified Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/14-19/10

48 41 11    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. April 9-11, 2010. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

               

"As you may know, President Obama will announce later this year a nominee to the Supreme Court. Do you think Obama should nominate somebody who is very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?"

 
    Very
liberal
Somewhat
liberal
Moderate Somewhat
conservative
Very
conservative
Unsure
    % % % % % %
 

4/9-11/10

8 17 37 19 17 1
 

5/14-17/09

9 18 37 19 16 1
               

"And just your best guess -- do you think Obama will nominate somebody who is very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative, or very conservative?"

 
    Very
liberal
Somewhat
liberal
Moderate Somewhat
conservative
Very
conservative
Unsure
    % % % % % %
 

4/9-11/10

33 28 21 9 7 3

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. April 6-7, 2010. N=900 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court are given lifetime appointments, which means it is completely up to the individual justice when he or she retires. Do you think justices should continue to be allowed to serve as long as they want, or should there be a mandatory retirement age for Supreme Court justices?"

 
    Serve as long
as they want
Mandatory
retirement age
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/6-7/10

30 65 6    
 

7/12-13/05

28 66 6    
             

"If a mandatory retirement age were set for Supreme Court justices, what do you think that age should be?" Open-ended

 
    %        
 

Under age 65

12        
 

65-69

24        
 

70-74

24        
 

75-79

16        
 

80-84

6        
 

85-89

2        
 

90 & older

2        
 

Don't set age

7        
 

Unsure

6        
             

"When President Obama nominates the next justice to the U.S. Supreme Court, do you want him to nominate someone who is more of a liberal or someone who is more of a conservative?" Options rotated
7/05: "When President Bush nominates the next justice to the U.S. Supreme Court...?"

 
    More of a
liberal
More of a
conservative
Shouldn't
consider
ideology (vol.)
A moderate
(vol.)
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

4/6-7/10

29 52 5 7 7
 

7/12-13/05

25 39 8 12 16
             

"If Senate Republicans strongly oppose the person President Obama nominates to be the next Supreme Court justice, do you think they should allow an up or down vote on the nominee even if they might lose, or draw out the debate to prevent a vote and keep the nominee from being confirmed?"
7/05: "If Senate Democrats strongly oppose the person President Bush nominates to be the next Supreme Court justice...?"

 
    Allow up or
down vote
Prevent
a vote
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

4/6-7/10

52 26 22    
 

7/12-13/05

51 24 26    

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. July 31-Aug. 3, 2009. Adults nationwide.

             

"As you may know, Sonia Sotomayor is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Sotomayor serving on the Supreme Court, or not?" N=506 (Form A), MoE ± 4.5

 
    Vote in
favor
Not vote in
favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/31 - 8/3/09

51 36 14    
 

6/26-28/09

47 40 13    
             

"As you may know, Sonia Sotomayor is the federal judge who Barack Obama nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Sotomayor serving on the Supreme Court, or not?" N=521 (Form B), MoE ± 4.5

 
    Vote in
favor
Not vote in
favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/31 - 8/3/09

61 31 8    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). July 24-27, 2009. N=1,011 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

               

"Now I'm going to read you the names of several public figures, and I'd like you to rate your feelings toward each one as either very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don't know the name, please just say so. Sonia Sotomayor."

 
    Very
positive
Somewhat
positive
Neutral Somewhat
negative
Very
negative
Don't know
name/Unsure
    % % % % % %
 

7/24-27/09

16 15 22 14 13 20
 

6/12-15/09

13 17 24 8 8 30
               

"As you may know, Barack Obama recently nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Sonia Sotomayor's serving as a justice on the Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about her to say?"

 
    Strongly
support
Somewhat
support
Somewhat
oppose
Strongly
oppose
Don't know
enough
Unsure
    % % % % % %
 

7/24-27/09

25 19 13 17 25 1
 

6/12-15/09

21 22 9 11 35 2

 

Pew Research Center survey. July 22-26, 2009. N=746 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"How much, if anything, have you heard about Barack Obama's choice of Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court justice: a lot, a little, or nothing at all?"

 
    A lot A little Nothing
at all
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

7/22-26/09

46 33 19 2  
 

6/10-14/09

39 38 21 2  
             

"From what you've seen and heard so far, do you think the Senate should or should not confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/22-26/09

50 23 27    
 

6/10-14/09

50 25 25    

 

FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll. July 21-22, 2009. N=900 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"I'm going to read you the names of several individuals and institutions. Please tell me whether you have a generally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one. If you've never heard of an individual or institution, please just say so. Sonia Sotomayor."

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Can't say Never
heard of
 
    % % % %  
 

7/21-22/09

41 24 19 15  
 

6/9-10/09

36 18 25 21  
             

"President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. If you were voting on Sotomayor's nomination, would you vote to confirm her or not?"

 
    Confirm Not confirm Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/21-22/09

53 29 19    
 

6/9-10/09

46 32 22    

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. July 17-19, 2009. N=1,006 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.

             

"Now, turning to the U.S. Supreme Court: As you may know, Sonia Sotomayor is the federal judge nominated to serve on the Supreme Court. Would you like to see the Senate vote in favor of Sotomayor serving on the Supreme Court, or not?"

 
    Vote
in favor
Not vote
in favor
Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/17-19/09

55 36 9    
 

7/10-12/09

53 33 13    
 

5/29-31/09

54 28 19    

 

Diageo/Hotline Poll conducted by FD. July 9-13, 2009. N=800 registered voters nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"Now, I'd like to read you a list of various national public figures, and for each one, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of them. If you haven't heard of them, just tell me and we'll move on. Sonia Sotomayor."

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Heard of/Can't
rate (vol.)
Haven't
heard of
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/9-13/09

31 24 15 24 5
             

"On the topic of President Obama's nomination to the Supreme Court, do you support or oppose the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States?" Options rotated

 
    Support Oppose Unsure    
    % % %    
 

7/9-13/09

50 28 22    

 

Gallup Poll. July 10-12, 2009. N=1,018 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Next, we'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, lease say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. How about U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor?"

 
    Favorable Unfavorable Never
heard of
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

7/10-12/09

38 26 19 17  
 

5/29-31/09

43 21 15 21  
             

"How closely are you following the news about Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?"

 
    Very
closely
Somewhat
closely
Not too
closely
Not at all Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/10-12/09

14 39 27 19 1
 

5/29-31/09

20 40 22 18 -

 

CBS News Poll. July 9-12, 2009. N=944 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Is your opinion of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't heard enough about Sonia Sotomayor yet to have an opinion?"

 
    Favorable Not
favorable
Undecided Haven't
heard
enough
 
    % % % %  
 

7/9-12/09

23 15 23 39  
 

6/12-16/09

33 9 22 36  
             

"What do you think right now? Should the Senate vote to confirm Sonia Sotomayor as a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, or vote against Sotomayor, or can't you say?"

 
    Vote to
confirm
Vote
against
Can't say Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

7/9-12/09

30 14 52 4  
 

6/12-16/09

34 9 53 4  
             

"How important do you think it is for there to be another woman on the Supreme Court? Would you say it is very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all?"

 
    Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not very
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/9-12/09

35 31 14 18 2
             

"How important do you think it is for there to be a Hispanic on the Supreme Court? Would you say it is very important, somewhat important, not very important or not important at all?"

 
    Very
Important
Somewhat
important
Not very
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

7/9-12/09

21 32 20 25 2
             

"If Sonia Sotomayor is confirmed to sit on the Supreme Court, do you think she will favor certain groups over others when making her judicial decisions, or do you think she will treat all groups the same under the law?"

 
    Will favor
certain groups
Will treat
all the same
Depends
(vol.)
Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

7/9-12/09

21 60 2 17  
 

6/12-16/09

18 55 2 25  

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 26-28, 2009. N=1,026 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"Suppose the upcoming confirmation hearings indicate that Sonia Sotomayor is qualified and has no ethical problems. Do you think U.S. Senators would be justified or unjustified in voting against her if they disagree with her stance on current issues such as abortion or gun control?"

 
    Justified Unjustified Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/26-28/09

47 49 5    
             

"What do you think is more likely to occur during the Senate confirmation hearings for Sotomayor: a relatively easy process in which Republicans and Democrats come to an agreement, or a major fight between Republicans and Democrats that would drag on for a long time?"

 
    Relatively
easy
Major fight Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/26-28/09

38 60 3    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. June 18-21, 2009. N=1,001 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.

             

"As you may know, Obama has nominated federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court?"

 
    Should Should not Unsure    
    % % %    
 

ALL

62 25 13    
 

Democrats

79 11 10    
 

Independents

64 26 10    
 

Republicans

36 43 21    
             

"Given what you know, do you think Sotomayor is a more liberal nominee than you'd have liked, less liberal than you'd have liked, or about right?"

 
    More liberal Less liberal About right Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/18-21/09

26 8 55 12  
             

"Do you think Sotomayor's racial and ethnic background plays a role in the way she decides cases as a judge, or not?" If "Yes": "Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?"

 
    Yes: Good Yes: Bad No Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/18-21/09

16 22 52 10  
             

"Do you think the fact that Sotomayor is a woman plays a role in the way she decides cases as a judge, or not?" If "Yes": "Do you think that's a good thing or a bad thing?"

 
    Yes: Good Yes: Bad No Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/18-21/09

23 10 59 8  
             

"The Supreme Court legalized abortion 36 years ago in the ruling known as Roe versus Wade. If that case came before the court again, would you want Sotomayor to vote to uphold Roe versus Wade, or vote to overturn it?" Options rotated

 
    Uphold Overturn Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/18-21/09

60 34 6    

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. June 12-16, 2009. N=895 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"When the Senate votes on a Supreme Court nominee, should it consider only that person's legal qualifications and background, or along with legal background, should the Senate also consider that nominee's personal views on major issues the Supreme Court decides?"

 
    Legal only Issues, too Unsure    
    % % %    
 

6/12-16/09

30 62 8    
 

1/5-8/06

32 61 7    
             

"How important is it for the members of the Supreme Court to reflect the diverse gender, ethnic and racial make-up of the country as a whole? Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all?"

 
    Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not too
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

6/12-16/09

43 31 12 11 3
             

"How closely would you say you have been following news about the appointment of federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court: very closely, somewhat closely, not very closely, or not at all?"

 
    Very
closely
Somewhat
closely
Not very
closely
Not at all Unsure
    % % % % %
 

6/12-16/09

22 39 19 18 2
             

"Before senators vote on whether Sonia Sotomayor should be confirmed as a justice of the Supreme Court, how important do you think it is for the Senate to know her positions on issues such as abortion and affirmative action? Is that very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not at all important?"

 
    Very
important
Somewhat
important
Not very
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

6/12-16/09

48 28 11 11 2

 


 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). June 12-15, 2009. N=1,008 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.1.

               

"Based on what you have heard so far, do you think that Sonia Sotomayor is qualified or not qualified to be a Supreme Court justice, or do you not know enough about her to say?"

 
    Qualified Not qualified Don't know
enough
Unsure    
    % % % %    
 

6/12-15/09

50 13 35 2    
               

"How much confidence do you have that, if she is confirmed by the Senate to sit on the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor will reflect your views about most issues: a great deal of confidence, quite a bit of confidence, some confidence, very little confidence, or no confidence at all? If you have no opinion, please just say so." Half sample (Form A), MoE ± 4.4

 
    A great deal Quite a bit Some Very little None at all No opinion
    % % % % % %
 

6/12-15/09

12 14 20 14 13 27
               

"Based on what you have heard, seen, or read about Sonia Sotomayor's decisions as a judge and her personal viewpoints do you feel that she would be within the mainstream of the Supreme Court and past justices who have served, or outside the mainstream of the Supreme Court and past justices who have served? If you do not know enough to have an opinion, just say so." Half sample (Form B), MoE ± 4.4

 
    Within
mainstream
Outside
mainstream
Don't know
enough
Unsure    
    % % % %    
 

6/12-15/09

28 33 35 4    

 


 

Pew Research Center Poll. June 10-14, 2009. N=1,502 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

             

"What is your impression of Sonia Sotomayor? Do you think she is liberal, moderate, or conservative?"

 
    Liberal Moderate Conservative Unsure  
    % % % %  
 

6/10-14/09

31 34 8 26  
             

"As I read some issues the Supreme Court may rule on over the coming years, please tell me how important each issue is to you personally. First, are court decisions on [see below] very important, fairly important, not too important, or not at all important to you?"

 
    Very
important
Fairly
important
Not too
important
Not at all
important
Unsure
    % % % % %
 

"Abortion"

 

6/10-14/09

55 20 11 11 3
 

11/3-6/05

62 20 8 8 2
 
 

"Affirmative action"

 

6/10-14/09

40 32 14 7 8
 

11/3-6/05

38 37 12 7 6
 
 

"Issues related to homosexuality"

 

6/10-14/09

33 18 20 25 4
 

11/3-6/05

36 20 20 21 3
 
 

"The rights of people held in custody as terrorist suspects"

 

6/10-14/09

57 25 9 6 3
 

11/3-6/05

57 23 10 6 4
 
 

"Election and voting rules"

 

6/10-14/09

57 25 9 5 3

Supreme Court / Judiciary continued


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