A recent survey conducted by Marquette Law School indicates that 53% of American adults disapprove of the Supreme Court's current performance. The data reveals a stark partisan split, with only 47% of the population expressing approval of how the High Court is managing its duties.
The slide from 54 percent approval in March 2025
Public confidence in the Supreme Court has experienced significant volatility over the last year. according to the Marquette Law School poll, approval reached a peak of 54% in March 2025, shortly after Donald Trump returned to office, before entering a steady decline. This downward trend hit a low of 42% in April 2026, though it has since edged back up to the current 47% mark.
This fluctuation suggests that the Supreme Court's public image is increasingly tied to the immediate political climate rather than long-term institutional stability. The report says that approval has remained below the 50% threshold since November 2025, marking a prolonged period of low public trust in the nation's highest judicial body.
Why 77 percent of Democrats see a Trump-aligned court
The perception of the Supreme Court is now almost entirely bifurcated along party lines. The Marquette Law School poll found that 74% of Republicans approve of the court's performance , while only 22% of Democrats and 35% of independents share that sentiment. Even within the Republican base, support has eroded, dropping from 84% in February 2025 to 74% today.
A primary driver of this friction is the court's perceived relationship with Donald Trump. While 77% of Democrats believe the Supreme Court rules in favor of Donald Trump almost always or most of the time, only 37% of Republicans agree. This divide is underscored by the court's 6-3 conservative majority, which includes Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, all of whom were appointed by Donald Trump during his first term.
The 58 percent who view politics as the primary driver
There is a growing consensus among the public that legal precedent has taken a backseat to political ideology.. As the Marquette Law School report says, 58% of surveyed adults believe that politics is the primary motivator behind the Supreme Court's rulings, while only 42% believe decisions are driven mainly by the law.
This shift is not limited to the left; the poll indicates that 43% of Republicans now believe politics drives the court, an increase from 36% in May. Meanwhile, 74% of Democrats and 59% of independents hold this view. This suggests that a majority of the American public now views the Supreme Court as a partisan entity rather than a neutral arbiter of the law.
The tension between the Voting Rights Act and birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court's recet term has managed to alienate both ends of the political spectrum through contradictory rulings. Progressives were angered by a decision that critics argue weakened the Voting Rights Act, while conservatives were frustrated when the court sided against Donald Trump regarding his efforts to end birthright citizenship.
These conflicting outcomes leave several critical questions unanswered. It remains unclear how the Supreme Court will reconcile these disparate rulings in future terms, or whether the court's attempt to assert independence from Donald Trump will succeed in recovering trust among Republicans. With the court on recess until October, the legal community is left to wonder if the 6-3 conservative majority will shift its approach to avoid further eroding its institutional legitimacy.
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