How much confidence do Americans have in the judicial system?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. According to the visual above what portion of Americans say they have confidence in the judicial system?

2. How has that level of confidence changed in the last four years?

3. The current confidence in the judiciary is by far the lowest in the past two decades. How does American confidence in the judiciary compare with other institutions?

4. There have been a number of high profile events related to the judicial system over the past four years. A number of Supreme Court Justices have been exposed for accepting gifts; in its June 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, the Supreme Court overturned the longstanding precedent of Roe v. Wade, leading to near-total abortion bans in more than a dozen states; former President Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies and railed against the judicial system; President Biden has issued a sweeping pardon of his son for various federal crimes and railed against the judicial system; and President Trump has pledged to pardon many of the people imprisoned for their role in the January 6 riots. Of all these factors, which do you think has been most responsible for the recent change in Americans’ confidence in the judiciary?

5. Describe your level of confidence in the judicial system.

6. The American judicial system is made up of 50 state judicial systems and one federal judicial system. The federal judicial system is made up of 94 federal district courts, 13 United States Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. When people describe their confidence in the judicial system, what do you think they mean?

7. How do you think the declining confidence in the courts will impact the power of the incoming Trump administration?

8. In a way, approval ratings are very important to Congress, the President, and elected officials. Explain why approval ratings don’t always matter as much to the judiciary.

9. Despite this, some members of the Supreme Court are very concerned about public approval, arguing that the court’s legitimacy (public perception and approval) is what gives force to its rulings. After all, the courts cannot enforce their own rulings, only the executive branch can enforce a law or ruling. What would happen if the general public had low or no confidence in the judicial system?

10. Most other wealth countries have high levels of confidence in their judiciary. According to the visual below*, how does U.S. confidence in its judiciary compare to other countries around the world?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Contact the Supreme Court and tell them whether you approve of its handling of its job.

General Contact Information:

U.S. Mail:
Supreme Court of the United States
 1 First Street, NE
 Washington, DC 20543

Telephone: 202-479-3000
TTY: 202-479-3472
 (Available M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern)

They don’t do email!!!!! The Court definitely doesn’t have a TikTok.

Get Creative

You have to admit that the judicial uniform is boring: black robes! Create a new judicial uniform that would boost confidence in the courts. Share your design with your classmates.

Learn More

Read the Gallup survey - Americans Pass Judgement on their Courts.