

Today, majorities across partisan, demographic, and regional groups disapprove of the court, with the exceptions of Republicans (62% approve, 37% disapprove) adults with high school education only are divided (46% approve, 49% disapprove). The shift represents a 20 percentage-point drop in approval among all adults and a 17 percentage-point drop among likely voters since PPIC last asked this question in 2017, when the ideological makeup of the justices was evenly balanced (currently, conservative-leaning justices outnumber liberal-leaning justices six to three). Thirty-seven percent of adults and 36% of likely voters approve of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job, while majorities disapprove-59% of adults and 63% of likely voters. This growing divide has resulted in a steep drop-and record low-in the court’s approval ratings. This opinion puts Californians at odds with the court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. Californians also largely disagree with efforts to protect gun ownership-in February, 65% of adults stated that controlling gun ownership was more important than protecting gun ownership rights. Among others, these rulings include the decision that ended the constitutional right to abortion-last July 68% of Californians disapproved of the court overturning Roe v Wade.

The Supreme Court of the United States has been in the spotlight over the last year after issuing a series of controversial decisions, and Californians’ views are at odds with some of the most high profile and contentious rulings, according to PPIC surveys conducted in February 2023 and July 2022.
