Supreme Court Approval Ratings Remained Near Record Lows

Public trust in the judicial branch has reached historically low levels in recent Gallup polling.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Law

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a neoclassical building facade, rendered in navy, cream, and crimson to evoke the gravity of judicial institutional policy. — Recent Gallup polling shows public approval of the Supreme Court remains near record lows, with over half of Americans reporting little trust in the institution. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you generally trust the Supreme Court to interpret the law fairly?

Sixty-one percent of Americans now disapprove of the job performance of the Supreme Court, with approval ratings sitting below 35% for two consecutive surveys. Currently, 54% of respondents report having little or no trust in the judicial branch.

Why it matters

Low approval ratings reflect a deep partisan divide in how the public perceives the judiciary's role in American life. These figures underscore significant dissatisfaction with the current direction and perceived ideological tilt of the institution.

Approximately 43% of Americans view the Supreme Court as too conservative, while 17% consider it too liberal and 35% view it as about right. Public trust levels have been tracked by Gallup since 1972.

The players

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States and holds the authority to interpret federal law and constitutional issues.

Gallup

Gallup is a global analytics and advisory company known for conducting public opinion polls and tracking social trends in the United States.

The details

The decline in public sentiment comes as the Court faces criticism regarding its rulings on birthright citizenship, mail-in voting rules, and global tariffs. While independents report 42% trust in the branch, partisan differences remain stark as disapproval continues to mirror record-highs set throughout 2026.

1972: Gallup began tracking judicial branch trust trends.
September 2022: Trust in the judicial branch first fell below half.
July 2026: Supreme Court disapproval tied a record high.
September 2026: Supreme Court disapproval tied a record high.
Next Monday: Supreme Court hears climate and veteran benefit cases.

Political Context

Opponents of the court's current trajectory argue that rulings on issues like birthright citizenship represent a departure from established precedent that alienates a majority of the electorate. They maintain that the court has become an ideological actor, a stance that exacerbates the loss of institutional trust first seen during the 2022 decline.

The public's loss of trust in the judiciary signals potential friction for citizens interacting with federal legal frameworks, as court rulings directly dictate shifts in civil liberties and regulatory standards. Taxpayers may find that these shifting legal interpretations impact their personal rights and the practical implementation of federal policies.

The takeaway

The sustained low trust levels suggest a period of prolonged skepticism toward the Supreme Court across a wide demographic spectrum. Americans should monitor upcoming high-profile rulings to see if the court alters its approach to regain broader public confidence.