Poll Highlights Perception of Supreme Court Bias

Nearly half of registered voters think the Supreme Court has a bias favoring President Donald Trump. The latest Economist/YouGov poll reveals that as the president increasingly seeks judicial intervention in election-related issues ahead of the midterms, the perception grows.

Conducted from September 4 to 8 with 1,469 registered voters, the poll reports that 44% believe the Court is biased in Trump’s favor. Only 12% think it is biased against him, while 27% say the Court treats Trump fairly. The remaining 18% are unsure. The poll carries a margin of error of 3.4%.

Partisan Divide

The views on perceived bias are starkly divided along party lines. Among voters who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, 81% believe the Supreme Court favors Trump compared to just 9% of Trump supporters. Among Democrats, 77% share this belief. For Republicans, 20% think the Court is against Trump and nearly 50% see it as impartial. Meanwhile, 44% of independents perceive the bias towards Trump, while 23% say the Court treats him fairly, and 8% see it being biased against Trump.

Newsweek has reached out to the Supreme Court for their comments regarding these perceptions.

Supreme Court’s Waning Approval

The poll also indicates a decline in the overall approval of the Supreme Court. Currently, 56% of registered voters disapprove of its performance, down from 50% in July, while approval ratings stand at 34%, slightly down from 36% previously.

The Court’s characterization as conservative rose from 44% in July to 49%. Meanwhile, those calling it liberal increased modestly from 9% to 10%.

Political Context

The survey results come as the Court engages in politically significant election disputes shortly before the November midterms. Recently, it declined to reinstate a Republican-backed congressional map in Missouri, among other rulings affecting the Trump administration.

Registered voters are seemingly divided over the Court’s ideological leanings and its dynamics with Trump, which may further influence public perceptions.

Rulings and Power

According to the poll, 47% of respondents say the Court’s recent rulings have granted Trump too much power. Thirty percent see the power as appropriate, while 8% feel he has been given too little power. The remaining 15% are unsure.

When asked whether the president should always comply with the Court’s orders, even in disagreement, 73% of the respondents agreed, 11% disagreed, and 16% were unsure.

Opinions on Justices

Findings from a July Economist/YouGov poll exhibited mixed views on individual Supreme Court justices. Amy Coney Barrett has a 23% favorable rating, with 38% unfavorable. Clarence Thomas received 29% favorable and 41% unfavorable views. Chief Justice John Roberts holds a 25% favorable and 36% unfavorable rating, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is viewed favorably by 34% and unfavorably by 26%.

Notably, the net favorability ratings for Justices Thomas, Barrett, and Kavanaugh have declined compared to a similar poll a year prior, indicating a shift in public opinion about the Court.