Public Opinion Turns Negative for Conservative Supreme Court Justices

The perception of several conservative Supreme Court justices among Americans has worsened in the past year, according to a recent national poll. The survey conducted by YouGov/The Economist indicates that the favorability ratings of Justices Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh have declined compared to a similar poll done a year earlier. Amy Coney Barrett experienced the largest decrease, with a notable rise in ‘very unfavorable’ ratings. Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh also saw declines, with Kavanaugh’s drop at -2 year over year.

This negative shift happens as fewer Americans express approval for the Supreme Court. Skepticism about the Court remains prevalent, with sharp divisions along partisan lines. Democrats tend to view conservative justices negatively, while Republicans remain supportive.

Poll Details

The poll released on Tuesday reports a 36 percent approval rating for the Supreme Court, compared to a 50 percent disapproval rating. Additionally, 9 percent of respondents believe the court is ‘too liberal,’ while 44 percent find it ‘too conservative.’ Recent controversial decisions about birthright citizenship and presidential power have also been influential. When asked about the balance of power, 45 percent said the court has given the president too much power, 29 percent said it was balanced, and 9 percent felt there was too little power granted. The poll surveyed 1,603 U.S. adults from July 3 to July 6 and has a margin of error of 3.3 percent.

Supreme Court Justices’ Favorability Ratings

Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by George W. Bush, holds a 25 percent favorability rating, with a 36 percent unfavorable rating. His current net approval is -11 percent, which is a decrease from last year’s -9 percent. Brett Kavanaugh’s favorability is at 27 percent, with a 37 percent unfavorable rating, leading to his net approval rating falling from -8 percent last year to -10 percent this year.

Neil Gorsuch has a favorability rating of 23 percent. His unfavorable rating stands at 30 percent, with his net favorability slightly improving from -8 percent last year to -7 percent this year. Justice Elena Kagan’s favorability increased to 30 percent from 26 percent last year. Her net favorability augmented from -3 percent to 6 percent.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor has a 37 percent favorable rating compared to 26 percent unfavorable, raising her net favorability from 4 percent last year to 11 percent this year. Samuel Alito’s net favorability decreased to -7 percent from -6 percent last year, despite maintaining a favorability rating of 25 percent.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s favorability fell sharply this year, with 23 percent positive against 38 percent negative ratings. Her net favorability dropped from -9 percent to -15 percent. Clarence Thomas saw a decline to -12 percent net approval from -9 percent last year. His favorability is now 29 percent compared to the unfavorable rating of 41 percent.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson observed an improvement in her public perception. Her favorability rose to 34 percent from 33 percent, and her net favorability increased to 8 percent from 2 percent last year.

The previous year’s survey, conducted among 1,043 U.S. adults, had a margin of error of 4.3 percent.

Expert Analysis

Former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg commented to Newsweek that the decline in favorability is not linked to individual rulings or a specific president. He attributed it to the Supreme Court’s increasing activism, which many view as political. The reversal of Roe v. Wade, changes to the Voting Rights Act, and the extension of presidential immunity have compromised public trust. Justice Barrett has provoked both political parties with her decisions, leading to worse ratings compared to her colleagues.

Newsweek reached out to the Supreme Court for comment via email. For further details on the story, contact editor Edward T. Cummins.