New Data Shows Americans Divided on Supreme Court Power and Reforms
Surveys reveal Americans' views on Supreme Court power and reforms, plus Sotomayor's civics concerns.
Why it matters: Why it matters: Understanding public opinion on the Supreme Court helps legal educators and policymakers address institutional trust and potential reforms amid declining court favorability.
- 56% of Americans say the Supreme Court has the right amount of power, 32% say it has too much.
- 48% held a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court in 2025, down from 70% five years earlier.
- Around 73% support Supreme Court justice term limits based on surveys from 2020–2023.
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor warns inadequate civics education risks confusion about government roles.
A recent Pew Research Center survey conducted in July 2026 found that 56% of Americans believe the Supreme Court wields the right amount of power, while 32% think it has too much. Another 10% consider it too weak. This reflects a nuanced public perception of the Court's role.
However, the Court’s overall favorability is declining. In September 2025, a Pew poll reported just 48% of Americans viewed the Court favorably—a steep drop from 70% five years earlier. This drop signals challenges surrounding the Court’s legitimacy and public trust.
Supporting reforms, approximately 73% of respondents across nine nationally representative surveys from 2020 to 2023 backed imposing term limits for justices, according to analysis by the Brennan Center.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor has spoken about the critical role of civics education in maintaining a healthy democracy. As she cautioned in a 2025 interview with The Guardian, inadequate civics knowledge can cause Americans to misunderstand the difference between presidents and kings, undermining respect for constitutional boundaries.
Sotomayor also openly acknowledges the political aspects of the judiciary: "No justice is nonpolitical. We’re political with a Big P or small p," she said in an interview. Her reflections emphasize the human and institutional complexities that inform the Court's public image.
By the numbers:
- 56% — Americans who say the Supreme Court has the right amount of power
- 32% — Americans who believe the Supreme Court has too much power
- 73% — Support among Americans for term limits on Supreme Court justices