Topline
More than two-thirds of Americans believe Supreme Court justices should be subject to term limits or a set retirement age, according to a new AP-NORC poll which also highlights the growing disapproval among Americans of the conservative-majority top court which recently handed down key rulings to overturn the right to abortion and block gun control measures implemented by states.
People protest in response to the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in front of the … [+]
Key Facts
According to the poll, 67% of respondents support setting term limits that last a specific number of years for the Supreme Court justices, unlike the current system of lifetime appointments unless they choose to retire.
A similar number of Americans support a mandated retirement age for the justices, the AP report adds without specifying the exact number.
The term limits have majority support from both Democratic (82%) and Republican (57%) voters.
The court’s recent rulings have also shrunk its approval among Americans with 43% of people saying they have “hardly any confidence” in the court—a sharp increase from 27% just three months ago.
On the issue of potentially expanding the Supreme Court, however, Americans are more evenly divided with around one-third each saying they are in favor, oppose or have no opinion on the matter.
Big Number
53%. That is the percentage of Americans who oppose the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to the poll, with only 30% approving it. The stance on this issue is highly partisan, however, as 80% of Democrats disapprove of the ruling while 63% of Republicans support it.
Key Background
Last month, the 6-3 conservative majority Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, allowing states to completely ban access to the procedure. Several states across the U.S. have moved to almost completely ban abortions in their jurisdiction. Additional laws which could impact access to contraceptives, fertility treatments and access to information on reproductive health are also moving through various state legislatures. However, polls conducted by Gallup show that 85% of Americans support abortion in all or most cases. Even in states where abortion access in being restricted, a majority of people (57%) have said they oppose the Supreme Court’s recent decision, according to a Pew Research Poll. There is growing concern among Democrats that the court’s decision on abortion could lead to renewed threats against same-sex marriages and other LGBTQ rights.
Further Reading
Americans’ Support For Government Action On Abortion Surges After Roe V. Wade Decision, Poll Finds (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/07/25/more-than-two-thirds-of-americans-want-term-limits-for-supreme-court-justices-poll-finds/