Most Americans Oppose Changing Supreme Court

A recent nationwide survey highlighted in a Wall Street Journal editorial reveals that a majority of Americans oppose significant changes to the Supreme Court, despite President Biden's recent advocacy for such reforms. The Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey indicates that 52% of likely voters are against amending the U.S. Constitution to alter the court's structure, while only 41% support the idea. This comes in the wake of Biden's endorsement of legislation proposing term limits for justices, raising questions about the constitutionality of such measures. The poll further examined public sentiment on "court-packing," defined as increasing the number of justices to shift the ideological balance of the court. Only 34% of respondents supported this approach, with 59% opposing it and 7% undecided. Additionally, a significant majority of voters believe that proposals to expand the Supreme Court are driven by political motives, reflecting a broader skepticism towards radical changes in the judiciary. Moreover, the survey found that 87% of likely voters, including 84% of Democrats, view an independent judiciary as essential for protecting civil liberties. This sentiment stands in contrast to the rhetoric from some Democratic leaders, who have criticized the Supreme Court during the Democratic National Convention. Notably, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow made a controversial claim regarding the court's decisions, which the Wall Street Journal described as part of a troubling trend of attacks on the judiciary. Overall, the Mason-Dixon poll underscores a disconnect between the Democratic leadership's push for court reforms and the prevailing public opinion, which favors maintaining the current structure of the Supreme Court.