- Majorities continue to trust Biden’s judgment on the Supreme Court and support Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation.
- A majority of Americans oppose the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and support the actions of the House Committee investigating the events of that day.
- A majority say Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from any cases related to the events of the insurrection due to his wife’s involvement on January 6th.
As the Senate Prepares to Vote to Confirm, More Americans Continue to View Judge Jackson Favorably Than Unfavorably
Since mid-March, there has been a 7-point increase in the share who have a favorable view of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
- Nearly two-thirds of Democrats (65%) now hold a favorable view of Judge Jackson, while independents are split – though most are unfamiliar with her (57%).
Biden and Democrats Remain More Trusted to Put the Right People on the Supreme Court
Americans’ level of trust in President Biden and Democrats to select the right people for the Supreme Court has remained consistent throughout Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation process.
Americans Continue to Trust Biden’s Judgment on Who Should Be the Next Supreme Court Justice
Democrats (91% trust) and Black Americans (84%) trust Biden the most on who should be the next Supreme Court Justice.
A Growing Majority Support Jackson’s Confirmation, While Far Fewer Approve of Senate Republicans’ Hearing Behavior
Since mid-March, there has been a 4-point net increase in the share who support confirming Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court.
- By contrast, Americans are divided on Republican Senators’ behavior during her confirmation hearings before they read a description of their behavior; independents disapprove by a 9-point margin.
When Shown Questions Asked of KBJ by Republican Senators, Americans’ Disapproval of GOP Hearing Behavior Grows
A plurality of independents (41%) disapprove of how Republican senators have handled the hearings.
Overwhelming Majorities Oppose the Riot on January 6th and Two in Three Support the House Investigation
Bipartisan majorities oppose the January 6th riot while a majority, including independents (57%), support the House investigation of it.
- Nearly two-thirds of Republicans oppose the actions of the January 6th rioters (65%) and 45% support the House investigation.
Americans View the Trump Supporters Who Broke Into the Capitol Deeply Unfavorably
Nearly three-quarters of Americans (74%) hold unfavorable views of the people who broke into the Capitol on January 6th.
- While Republicans are most likely to be supportive, a notable majority (61%) still view them unfavorably.
Americans Associate Democrats with Protecting Democracy and Voting Rights; GOP With Overturning Elections and Violence
The Republican Party is significantly more associated with overturning an election if they don’t win than the Democratic Party by a 23-point margin, and more associated with using violence to achieve their political goals by a 17-point margin.
Americans Believe the House Investigation Into January 6th Is Important and Do Not See It As Unduly Focused on the Past
A plurality of independents (net +14) agree with a statement about the importance of the January 6th House Committee.
Emphasizing the Importance of the House Committee’s Work Without Mentioning Donald Trump Is More Resonant
Americans agree with both rebuttals that say the House Committee should pursue the truth and hold those involved accountable for their actions – though more Americans (and more independents) agree with a version of this statement that does not mention Trump.
Majorities Agree Justice Thomas Should Recuse Himself From January 6th-Related Cases Based on His Wife’s Involvement
Majorities of independents agree Justice Thomas should recuse himself, including 36% who “feel this way strongly.” One in three Republicans also agree he should recuse himself (34%).
About The Study
This release features findings from national online surveys of 998 registered voters conducted March 31 - April 4, 2022. Additional interviews were conducted among 100 Hispanic voters, 100 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 74 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.
