(Angus Reid Consultants – CPOD Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States recall one of the promises made by George W. Bush during last year’s electoral campaign, according to a poll by Ayres, McHenry and Associates for the Judicial Confirmation Network. 75 per cent of respondents believe the president should nominate a Supreme Court justice who will apply existing law.
(Angus Reid Consultants – CPOD Global Scan) – Many adults in the United States recall one of the promises made by George W. Bush during last year’s electoral campaign, according to a poll by Ayres, McHenry and Associates for the Judicial Confirmation Network. 75 per cent of respondents believe the president should nominate a Supreme Court justice who will apply existing law.
In the U.S., Supreme Court justices are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate. In the Oct. 13 presidential debate, Bush said, “I will pick judges who will interpret the Constitution, but I’ll have no litmus test.”
In October, U.S. Supreme Court chief justice William Rehnquist was hospitalized and treated for thyroid cancer. Eight of the nine current justices are over 65 years of age, and three members—Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul Stevens—have had health problems.
During the January 2004 State of the Union address, Bush said, “Activist judges (…) have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives.” 65 per cent of respondents believe decisions on same-sex marriage should be made by elected representatives, and not judges.
Polling Data
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “President Bush should keep his promise made during the campaign to nominate a U.S. Supreme Court justice who will apply existing law, not make new law.”
Agree | 75% |
Disagree | 18% |
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Decisions about political issues like gay marriage should be made by elected representatives, not by unelected judges.”
Agree | 65% |
Disagree | 25% |
Source: Ayres, McHenry and Associates / Judicial Confirmation Network
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 800 American adults, conducted from Mar. 6 to Mar. 9, 2005. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
