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US Supreme Court not as popular as it used to be

US Supreme Court not as popular as it used to be

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In the court of public opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court isn’t faring too well.

Approval numbers for the court have hit a half-century low, according to a poll released by the Pew Research Center. The survey shows that only 52 percent of Americans rate the court favorably, a drop from 58 percent in 2010.

At the same time, 29 percent rate the court unfavorably, a jump from 25 percent in 2010.

Contrast 1994, when 80 percent of the public rated the court favorably, and only 16 percent had a negative view.

The court’s dwindling popularity is not a partisan issue, according to the poll: 56 percent of Republicans, and 52 percent of both Democrats and independents gave the court a favorable rating.

On the issue of the health care law specifically, the public is deeply divided: 41 percent of those surveyed said they approve of it, while 49 percent disapprove.

But within those camps, views of the court were similar. Among the health care law’s supporters, 52 percent have a favorable view of the Supreme Court, while 34 percent view it unfavorably. Among the law’s opponents, 55 percent rate the court favorably, and 28 percent gave an unfavorable vote.

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