Americans lack confidence in SCOTUS

A newly released public opinion survey (PDF) from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner indicates general discontent with the Robert's court. Wide majorities disagree with the recent 5-4 party-line rulings that have upended a century of campaign finance law and tilted the rules in favor of the extremely wealthy and major corporations. The landmark Citizens United ruling was opposed by a whopping 80-18 margin.

By a 60-36 spread, those surveyed said that Supreme Court justices were more likely to be carrying out a personal or political agenda than working to render a fair and impartial judgment, an opinion that cut across party lines.

Overall approval of the Supreme Court has been falling since its 5-4 Bush v. Gore decision handed the presidency to George W. Bush in 2000, according to Gallup.

Frankly, it came as a big surprise to me when I learned that U. S. Supreme Court Justices are not bound by the same rules of judicial ethics that apply to other, lesser, judges. Yesterday, just for fun, I was reading the Kentucky Constitution, Bill of Rights, Section 2, "Absolute and arbitrary power denied." Stop.

I does not have much to do with anything, but I found it to be a happy thought.

The consensus in the Greenberg survey seems to have called for the elimination of life appointments for Supreme Court appointments.

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