Record Low Approval
Gallup Poll Reveals Supreme Court Approval Drops to Record Low Among Americans
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Only one in three Americans approve of the Supreme Court, according to a new Gallup poll — a record low in the survey's 26-year history. Gallup put the approval rating at just 33%, the worst number the poll has ever recorded.
The July 2026 survey was conducted July 1–19, just days after the justices handed down some of their biggest rulings of the term. Disapproval is coming from both sides of the political aisle, though for very different reasons, according to Lee Newspapers.
Republicans Most Disappointed Despite Conservative Court Majority
The court's six-justice conservative supermajority has not stopped Republicans from souring on it. Rapid City Journal reported that Republicans are particularly dissatisfied with the court. The conservative-leaning bench has blocked several key Trump administration policy goals, frustrating many on the right who expected a more aggressive ally.
Some Republicans feel the court has not gone far enough. Rather than delivering sweeping wins for the Trump agenda, the justices have at times acted as a check on executive power — a role many conservative voters did not anticipate from their own appointees.
Court Blocked Birthright Citizenship Limits and Fed Firing
Among the court's major rulings this term was a rejection of President Trump's attempt to limit birthright citizenship. The justices also blocked an effort to fire the chair of the Federal Reserve, according to Lee Newspapers. Both decisions drew sharp criticism from Trump supporters.
Democrats and independents have their own grievances. Their dissatisfaction likely reflects the court's overall ideological tilt to the right, built over years of Republican-appointed justices. Low ratings across all three political groups helped push the overall approval number to its historic low.
Shadow Docket Decisions Add Fuel to Public Criticism
Critics have also targeted the court's use of the so-called "shadow docket." That term refers to decisions the court issues quickly, often without full written arguments or explanation. Tulsa World noted that critics say the court has issued too many such rulings, reducing transparency and public trust.
The shadow docket has become a flashpoint in debates over the court's legitimacy. Opponents argue these fast rulings let the justices make major legal changes with little public scrutiny. Supporters say the process is sometimes necessary to resolve urgent legal questions quickly.
26 Years of Polling Show a Court in Freefall
Gallup has tracked Supreme Court approval for 26 years. The 33% approval mark is the lowest the poll has ever recorded. That number represents a sharp drop from periods when the court enjoyed broad public support from majorities of Americans across party lines.
The collapse in approval is notable because it spans partisan lines. When Democrats, Republicans, and independents all disapprove — even if for opposite reasons — it signals a deeper erosion of confidence in the institution itself, not just its individual rulings, according to Roanoke Times.
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