(CPOD) Nov. 8, 2004 - Americans are slightly divided over future presidential appointments to the United States Supreme Court, according to a poll by Ipsos released by the Associated Press. 59 per cent of respondents feel comfortable with the fact that George W. Bush would nominate the right kind of justices, while 41 per cent are uncomfortable.

Last month, 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.

A Supreme Court ruling in 1973 gave American women the right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. 61 per cent of respondents say Bush should appoint justices who would uphold the Roe v. Wade decision.

Polling Data

In president Bush's second term, he may have the opportunity to appoint several new justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. How comfortable are you that George W. Bush would nominate the right kind of justices to the Supreme Court?

The 1973 Supreme Court ruling called Roe v. Wade made abortion in the first three months of pregnancy legal. Do you think President Bush should nominate Supreme Court justices who would uphold the Roe v. Wade decision, or nominate Supreme Court justices who would overturn the Roe v. Wade decision?

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