2012-04-30-皮尤-Supreme_Court_Favorability_Reaches_New_Low_8页_429kb

Supreme Court Favorability at New Low (May 1, 2012)

Key Findings

• Support Rate: Public favorable rating for the Supreme Court reached 52%, down from 57% (2005/2007) and 58% (2010). Unfavorable ratings approached historic high levels.

• Minimal Partisan Divide: Unlike previous decades where partisan views were starkly divided (especially under Bush), 2012 saw virtually no difference between Republicans (56%), Democrats (52%), and Independents (52%). This was a notable shift from earlier periods with wider gaps.

• Healthcare Legislation Connection: Despite overall division over healthcare law approval (41% vs 49%), supporters and opponents rated the Court similarly. However, Democrats were significantly more likely than Republicans to say the healthcare hearings made them less favorable toward the Court.

• Further Context: Since key appointments under Obama, court support slipped, reflecting a trend that began in late 2008 and has accelerated steadily across multiple administrations.

Data Highlights

• Declining Court View: Support fell from 64% Jan 2001 to 52% Apr 2012 (over 12 percentage points decrease).
• Healthcare Impact: Democrats showed strong reactions to healthcare hearings, with 32% saying views became less favorable, compared to only 14% of Republicans.
• Sample Size: The survey included 1514 adults (N=3008) with detailed weighted methodologies to account for demographic factors.