A recent poll conducted by the Marquette Law School revealed that a slim majority of Americans support the Supreme Court’s decision to keep former President Donald Trump on the ballot for the upcoming election. However, the poll also found that a majority of respondents are against granting immunity to former presidents, including Trump.
The poll, which surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide, showed that 56% of Americans backed the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Trump to remain on the ballot despite allegations that he violated the “insurrectionist ban” in the 14th Amendment. On the other hand, 62% of respondents opposed the idea of granting immunity to former presidents, with only 20% in support.
Interestingly, when asked specifically about granting immunity to “former President Donald Trump,” the percentage of respondents in favor of immunity increased by 8 points. This shift was largely attributed to Republicans, who were more willing to support immunity for Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, compared to immunity for “former presidents” in general.
The poll’s director, Charles Franklin, noted that Republicans seemed to change their stance on immunity when prompted with Trump’s specific case, indicating a lack of awareness about the details of the Supreme Court appeal. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the immunity case on April 25, marking a significant moment in one of the most closely watched cases of the year.
Overall, the poll also revealed a decline in Americans’ support for the Supreme Court, likely influenced by recent controversial rulings and ethical controversies involving some justices. Despite a slight increase in approval ratings compared to recent polling, the Supreme Court’s current approval rating of 47% is significantly lower than it was just three years ago.