Majority in US say wrong to protest at justices’ homes, Dems disagree
Most Americans believe it is inappropriate to protest outside the homes of Supreme Court justices — as do a majority of Republicans — while 58% of Democrats say they see nothing wrong with the demonstrations, according to a poll.
The survey, conducted by Fox News after an armed California man was arrested at the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, found 55% of registered voters think the protests are inappropriate, along with 70% of Republicans and 62% of independents.
Overall, 37% believe the protests are appropriate, including 58% of Democrats.
The poll also showed that President Biden‘s job approval rating remains underwater.
A whopping 57% disapprove of his job performance — including 41% who “strongly” disapprove, while 43% approve.
The president also gets poor marks for his handling of the economy (67%), inflation (71%) and border security (58%).
Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, was indicted this week on a charge of attempted assassination.
Roske told prosecutors he was upset over the leaked draft document that showed the Supreme Court is on the verge of striking down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that legalized abortion across the country.
That ruling could come down as soon as next week.
Asked about the high court in the poll, 48% say they disapprove of the job the justices are doing, 39% approve and 14% are unsure.
That’s a stark reversal from two years ago, when 54% approved and 31% disapproved.
That poll was taken in July 2020, months before Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court and altered its conservative majority to 6-3.
In the 2020 poll, 50% of Democrats and 62% of Republicans gave the justices a thumbs-up, but that sentiment has fallen 16 percentage points among Democrats and 14 points among Republicans.
The change in attitude was also found among independent voters.
In 2020, 42% of independents approved, 37% disapproved and 21% were unsure. Now, 53% disapprove and only 29% approve.
“Views of the Supreme Court are usually less colored by partisan passions that are usually seen toward other institutions,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who conducts the Fox News Poll.
“The Dobbs case has polarized attitudes towards the Court, however, which is something that probably keeps the Chief Justice up at night. It will be interesting to see how the decision actually turns out,” Shaw said, referring to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the case the court is considering.
A majority — 60% — believe the justices should uphold Roe v. Wade, while 30% agree that it should be overturned.
The poll found that 38% believe abortion should be illegal except in certain circumstances, 31% say legal in all cases, 20% say legal most of the time, and 9% say always illegal.
And as the midterms approach in November, 41% say the issue that will most affect how they vote is inflation, 12% say guns, and 10% say abortion.
The poll surveyed 1,002 voters between June 10 and 13.
It has a plus/minus 3 percentage-point margin of error.
