SCOTUS Faces Crisis of Confidence with Culture War Cases on Deck

A new Rasmussen Reports national survey paints a complex picture of how Americans feel about the U.S. Supreme Court in 2025. While some voters still give the high court high marks, a growing number are expressing disappointment—and distrust.

In the national poll of 1,082 likely voters conducted from June 30 to July 2, only 12% rated the Supreme Court’s performance as “excellent”, with another 29% saying it’s “good.” However, 36% called the Court’s work “poor”—the most common response across all demographics. Trust in the institution is also waning: 48% of voters said they trust the Court less than they did two years ago, while only 20% reported gaining trust. Another 29% said their trust level has not changed.

Unsurprisingly, views of the Court split sharply along partisan lines. 52% of Republicans gave the Court high marks, rating it either “excellent” or “good,” compared to just 27% of Democrats. Conversely, 52% of Democrats rated the Court’s performance as “poor,” while only 15% of Republicans felt the same. Among ideological groups, 54% of conservatives viewed the Court positively, while 68% of liberals gave it a poor rating.

This divide also played out in trust metrics: 64% of Democrats said they now trust the Court less, while 35% of Republicans said they trust it more. Among independents, the mood was mixed—41% trust the Court less, and 34% say their trust hasn’t changed.

One of the Court’s recent rulings, which limited federal district courts’ ability to issue nationwide injunctions, also drew mixed reactions. Overall, 50% of voters approved of the decision (31% strongly, 19% somewhat), while 37% disapproved (23% strongly, 14% somewhat). Another 13% were unsure.

Support for the decision came primarily from older and conservative voters. 54% of conservatives strongly approved, as did 38% of voters over 65. Only 13% of liberals strongly approved, while 48% strongly disapproved. Among voters who supported Donald Trump in 2024, 66% strongly approved of the decision, while just 7% of Kamala Harris voters felt the same.

Interestingly, Hispanic voters were more likely than other racial groups to back the decision (60% approval), while Black voters were the most divided, with 43% disapproving and 14% unsure.

With major decisions expected in the months ahead and growing partisan scrutiny, the Supreme Court remains a lightning rod in American politics—seen by some as a constitutional backstop, and by others as another battleground in the fight for political control.

Survey margin of error: ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.