A new Marquette Law School Poll released in September 2026 indicates that public approval of the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to 43%, down from 47% in July. The national survey also measured public sentiment on several proposed changes to the court’s structure and operations, finding broad support for ethics mandates and term limits.
The poll results arrive amid ongoing debates regarding the judiciary's role and structure. The 43% approval rating is the second-lowest recorded by the Marquette survey since January 2025. Researchers noted that the four-percentage-point drop over the last two months was driven by a three-percentage-point decline among both Republican and Democratic respondents.
According to the survey, 89% of Americans favor enforcing a strict ethics code for the justices. Additionally, 79% of respondents support replacing the current life-term system with fixed terms. While these measures saw high levels of agreement, the public remained divided on the prospect of expanding the bench; 53% of respondents supported adding more justices to the court, while 47% expressed opposition.
The findings affect the nine justices of the Supreme Court and the residents of the United States who are subject to their rulings. The drop in approval to 43% represents a decline in public confidence across the political spectrum occurring within a two-month window.
The high support for structural changes—specifically the 89% favoring an ethics code—indicates public sentiment regarding judicial conduct. A move from life terms to fixed terms is supported by 79% of the public.
What happens next depends on whether these polling trends influence legislative action in Congress. While there is no immediate vote scheduled on court expansion or term limits, the 53-47 split on adding justices suggests that court expansion remains a polarized issue. The Supreme Court is scheduled to begin its next term in October 2026, where it will hear arguments on cases involving business regulation and government institutional powers.