U.S. Supreme Court confidence hits historic low

Public confidence in the United States federal judiciary has reached its lowest level since Gallup began tracking the metric in 1972. According to recent survey data, only 46% of adults express high or considerable confidence in the institution, marking the fifth consecutive year that trust has remained below 50%.

Approval of the Supreme Court specifically stands at 34%, while disapproval has reached 61%, tying a previous record high. The decline in institutional trust has accelerated following the 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Partisan divides are significant: Democratic confidence in the court dropped from 58% in 2020 to 23% in 2026, with only 12% of Democrats approving of its performance. In contrast, 79% of Republicans express confidence in the judiciary. Additionally, 43% of Americans describe the Supreme Court as ‘very conservative,’ while only 35% believe its ideological alignment is ‘appropriate.’

The Court is set to begin its 2026-2027 term on October 5, facing a docket that includes major federal disputes and climate litigation.