The majority of Americans do not view the Supreme Court as a politically neutral institution, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.
According to the survey, only 20 percent of respondents said they believe the court is politically neutral. A majority, 58 percent, said it is not, while the remainder either did not know or declined to answer. Among Democrats, 74 percent said the court is not politically neutral, while 54 percent of Republicans said the same.
The poll, conducted last week among 1,136 adults, comes as the Supreme Court has made a number of controversial rulings in recent memory. Over the past few years, the court has handed down decisions that have generated sharp reactions across the political spectrum, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade, expanding Second Amendment protections, rejecting the use of race in college admissions, and blocking some Trump administration efforts on immigration enforcement.
Public favorability toward the Supreme Court has also declined. The poll found that 44 percent of respondents currently view the court favorably. Among Republicans, that number stands at 67 percent, compared to just 26 percent of Democrats. In late 2021, 57 percent of Americans held a favorable view of the court, but that figure dropped to 43 percent by June 2022, shortly after the court struck down Roe v. Wade.
Several major upcoming decisions are expected to draw further scrutiny. One involves a Tennessee law that bans transgender medical procedures for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone treatments. According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, 53 percent of Americans support "laws that prevent transgender children under the age of 18 from getting medical treatment related to gender identity and gender transitioning." 57 percent of Republicans express support for such laws, compared to just 23 percent of Democrats.
Another highly anticipated ruling will address the legality of President Trump’s executive directive issued in January to end birthright citizenship. The policy, immediately challenged in court by multiple states, faces constitutional questions under the 14th Amendment. The poll found that only 24 percent of Americans support ending birthright citizenship, while 52 percent oppose the move.
