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After years of plummeting public trust and fierce accusations of partisanship, a new poll suggests the U.S. Supreme Court may be regaining its footing with the American people.
The Court’s approval rating has seen a significant rebound from a record low just one year ago, marking a five-year high in public confidence.
But this recovery is not a simple story. A closer look at the numbers reveals a complex and still deeply polarized nation grappling with the identity and role of its most powerful judicial body. The rebound is real, but the trust remains fragile.
A Rebound in the Ratings
According to the latest Fox News survey, 47% of registered voters now approve of the job the Supreme Court is doing. That is a remarkable 9-point jump from last July, when approval hit a record low of 38%.
The increase is widespread, but the rebound has been particularly dramatic among key demographic groups. Approval has surged 16 points among independents, 15 points among women, and 14 points among Republicans.
While the 47% approval figure is a significant improvement, it still falls short of the majority support the Court enjoyed as recently as 2020 (54%) and the record high of 58% in 2017.
The ‘Partisanship’ Perception Eases
Perhaps the most significant finding in the poll is a shift in how Americans view the Court’s motivations.
The share of voters who believe partisanship “frequently” plays a role in the Court’s decisions has dropped by 9 points in the last year, from 42% down to 33%. This suggests that the recent term – which included a mix of decisions on contentious issues – may have been perceived as less overtly political than previous ones.
“Over the past decade, public confidence in our major institutions has declined. The Court’s rebound could reflect its attempts to steer a middle course on politically polarizing questions.” – Daron Shaw, Republican pollster
Still a ‘Conservative’ Court in the Public Eye
While the perception of raw partisanship may have softened, the public’s view of the Court’s ideological leaning has not.
A strong plurality of voters, 43%, still believe the Supreme Court is “too conservative.” That number is more than double the 18% who say it is “too liberal.”
This perception reveals a deep and persistent partisan divide. An overwhelming 72% of Democrats view the court as too conservative. Meanwhile, a majority of Republicans (56%) believe its rulings are “about right.” Independents remain split, though more see the court as too conservative (40%) than about right (36%).
The Constitutional Importance of Credibility
These approval ratings are more than just political temperature-taking; they go to the very heart of the Supreme Court’s power and legitimacy in our constitutional system.
Under Article III of the Constitution, the judiciary was established as a co-equal branch of government. But unlike the President with the military or Congress with its budget, the Supreme Court’s only real power is its perceived authority to interpret the law. Public approval is the bedrock of that authority.
“Unlike the President with the military or Congress with its budget, the Supreme Court’s only real power is its perceived authority to interpret the law. Public approval is the bedrock of that authority.”
A court with dwindling public trust may find its decisions met with resistance, risking a constitutional crisis. A rebound in that trust, however fragile, can be seen as a stabilizing force for the rule of law.
A Fragile Trust
The new poll paints a complex picture. The Supreme Court’s approval is up, a welcome sign for an institution that has been battered by years of controversy. The perception of overt, constant partisanship has softened.
However, the deep ideological chasm in how Americans view the Court – and its conservative majority – remains firmly in place. The trust that has been regained is fragile, and it will be tested again and again as the Court continues to rule on the most divisive issues facing the nation. The rebound is real, but the Court is far from being seen as a truly apolitical body in the eyes of the American public.