Polls Show Broad Support for Supreme Court Reforms, Including Term Limits
New polls show strong bipartisan support for Supreme Court reforms, including term limits.
Why it matters: Growing public concern about Supreme Court politics is reshaping perceptions of the judiciary's legitimacy. Legal professionals should watch these trends as they may influence future court reforms and judicial independence.
- 79% of Americans favor fixed terms for Supreme Court justices across party lines, per Marquette Law School Poll (May 2026).
- 61% believe the Court favors former President Trump 'most or almost all of the time' (Marquette Law School Poll).
- 74% support term limits for justices, with net support increasing to +59, according to Navigator Research (May 2026).
- 70% back Congressional investigations into Supreme Court ethics violations (Navigator Research).
Recent polling reveals a significant bipartisan consensus in favor of reforms to the U.S. Supreme Court focused on enhancing accountability and curbing perceived political influence. The Marquette Law School Poll conducted in May 2026 found that 79% of respondents support fixed terms for Supreme Court justices — including 87% of Democrats, 73% of Republicans, and 77% of independents.
The same poll highlighted that 61% of Americans believe the Court rules in favor of former President Donald Trump "almost always" or "most of the time," indicating widespread concern about impartiality. Despite this, approval of the Court improved modestly to 46% in May 2026 from 42% in April of the same year.
Complementing these findings, a Navigator Research survey from May 2026 showed 74% of Americans support term limits for justices, with net support rising to +59 from +42 in July 2023. The survey also found that 70% endorse congressional investigations into Supreme Court ethics violations.
Earlier polling by YouGov in July 2025 echoed broad support for setting maximum tenure for justices: 83% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 68% of independents agreed. Meanwhile, an AP-NORC poll from July 2025 revealed that 67% of adults have some confidence in the Court, up from 56% after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, though approximately 40% felt the Court wields too much power—a sentiment primarily expressed by Democrats.
These data points indicate that while confidence in the Supreme Court is rising slightly, concerns over partisanship and institutional power persist. For legal practitioners and leaders, understanding this evolving public outlook is crucial since calls for judicial reform and increased oversight could reshape the landscape of judicial independence and legitimacy.
By the numbers:
- 79% favor fixed Supreme Court terms — Marquette Law School Poll, May 2026
- 61% believe Court favors Trump 'most or almost all of the time' — Marquette Law School Poll
- 74% support term limits for justices with +59 net support — Navigator Research, May 2026
Yes, but: Despite widespread support for reforms, approval of the Court has modestly increased recently, reflecting nuanced public attitudes.
What's next: Continued monitoring of congressional actions on Supreme Court ethics and term limit proposals is expected.