The Corner

Law & the Courts

Unpopular, but Legitimate

(trekandshoot/iStock/Getty Images)

Marist finds that:

Just 39% said they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the Supreme Court; 58% said they have not very much or no confidence at all in the institution. That’s a low in the poll.

And yet:

Few want to change the size of the court in the wake of the decision. Only a third of respondents said they were in favor of expanding the Supreme Court; 54% percent said they oppose that move.

This juxtaposition matters. The Supreme Court is a court, not a legislature, and courts are supposed to uphold the law as it is written, irrespective of what opinion polls might or might not say.

One can overstate the case, but a public that is split this strongly between the question “Do you like the Court at the moment?” and “Do you wish to alter or destroy the Court?” is a public that ultimately believes the Court to be legitimate, even as it dislikes some of the recent calls it has made.

Exit mobile version