(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in the United States are divided in their assessment of the country’s foremost tribunal, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 42 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the Supreme Court, while 41 per cent disagree.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in the United States are divided in their assessment of the country’s foremost tribunal, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 42 per cent of respondents have a favourable opinion of the Supreme Court, while 41 per cent disagree.
In the U.S., Supreme Court justices are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate. On Jul. 1, Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O’Connor announced her retirement from the tribunal. O’Connor will step down as soon as U.S. president George W. Bush’s nominee is ratified by the upper house.
In March, the Supreme Court ruled that applying the death penalty to minors violates the Constitution’s Eight Amendment—which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Before the decision, 19 American states had provisions that allowed for the execution of people younger than 18 years.
In May, the Supreme Court overturned an obstruction of justice conviction for accounting firm Arthur Andersen. All nine justices agreed that the June 2002 verdict had been improper because the instructions provided to jurors by the presiding judge “were flawed in important respects.” Arthur Andersen employees allegedly shredded documents related to the collapse of Texas-based energy company Enron in 2001.
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government can block the cultivation of marijuana for personal use, citing broader social and financial implications. The 6-3 decision effectively allows the federal government to override state legislation.
Polling Data
Do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court?
Jul. 2005 | May 2005 | |
Favourable | 42% | 39% |
Unfavourable | 41% | 33% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 American adults, conducted on Jul. 7, 2005. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
