U.S. Supreme Court Approval Declines Amidst Public Support for Ethics Reforms
A new national survey by the Marquette Law School Poll indicates a decline in the U.S. Supreme Court's approval rating, dropping to 43% in September from 47% in July. Disapproval concurrently rose to 57%. This marks the second-lowest approval rating since January 2025. The poll, conducted from September 2-9, 2026, surveyed 1,023 adults nationwide. Partisan divides persist, with 71% of Republicans approving, 36% of independents, and 19% of Democrats. The perception that the Court often rules in favor of the Trump administration increased to 60% in September. A majority of adults, 54%, believe the Court is actively avoiding rulings that President Trump might disobey. Furthermore, 57% of respondents feel the justices' decisions are primarily motivated by politics rather than law. The survey also found strong public support for Supreme Court reforms, with 89% favoring a strict ethics code for justices, 79% supporting fixed terms, and 53% in favor of expanding the number of justices.