CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

For release: Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

7:00 am EDT
The U.S. Supreme Court
March 17-20, 2016

53% of Americans think the U.S. Senate should hold a vote on Supreme Court nominee Merrick
Garland, while 42% say the Senate should wait for the next president to nominate someone.
Most Democrats want a vote now, but most Republicans think it should be held off until next
year.
Should the Senate Hold a Vote on Supreme Court Nominee?
Total Reps Dems Inds
Yes, should hold vote
53% 32% 75% 48%
No, should wait until next year
42
65
21
45
Senate Republican leaders have said they will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court justice
nominated by President Obama because they want to wait until the next president is in office.
73% of Americans think this is being done for political reasons, while just a quarter say it is
because thats what Republican Senate leaders think is best for the country.
Americans across the political spectrum, including a slim majority of Republicans, think the
hearings are being held up for political reasons.
Why Wont Senate Republican Leaders Hold Hearings on Nominee?
Total Reps Dems Inds
Political reasons
73% 52% 90% 73%
Best for the country
23
45
9
22
Merrick Garland is currently the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit, but he is largely unknown to most Americans. Seven in 10 are undecided or
dont know enough about him, but more hold a favorable opinion of him than an unfavorable
one.

Favorable
Unfavorable
Undecided/
Havent heard enough

Opinion of Merrick Garland

Total Reps Dems Inds
21% 10% 37% 14%
7
16
2
6
70

72

60

78

Historically, Americans have been unfamiliar with Supreme Court nominees at this early stage
of the confirmation process. Looking back at some recent Supreme Court justice nominees,
majorities did not have an opinion of them when they were first nominated

Views of Recent Supreme Court Justice Nominees

Now
5/2010
6/2009
11/2005 8/2005
Garland
Kagan
Sotomayor
Alito Roberts
21%
16%
33%
11% 25%
7
11
9
7
7

Favorable
Unfavorable
Undecided/
Havent heard enough 70

72

58

81

68

Among those who are following news about the appointment of the next Supreme Court justice
very or somewhat closely (six in 10 Americans), 58% think the Senate should hold a vote now;
that figure drops to 45% those not closely following news about this issue.
The matter of who sits on the U.S. Supreme Court is important to Americans -- more than twothirds say this is extremely or very important to them. The percentage who says it is extremely
important is up 15 points from 2005; shortly before John Roberts was nominated to the Court.
Republicans (49%), however, are more likely than Democrats (34%) or independents (33%) to
say it is extremely important to them personally who sits on the Supreme Court.
How Important to You is Who Sits on the Supreme Court?
Total Reps Dems Inds
7/2005
Extremely
37% 49% 34% 33%
22%
Very
31
27
37
29
37
Somewhat
22
17
22
26
30
Not
8
8
6
10
10
As the debate continues over whether the U.S. Senate should hold a vote on Merrick Garland,
Congress overall still receives dismal ratings from the American public. Three in four disapprove
of the job Congress is doing, while only 17% approve.

Approve
Disapprove

Now
17%
75

1/2016
15%
75

Congress Job Rating

3/2015
3/2014
22%
18%
70
76

3/2013
11%
81

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This poll was conducted by telephone March 17-20, 2016 among a random sample of 1,252 adults nationwide.
Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News and the New York Times by SSRS of Media, PA. Phone
numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.
The poll employed a random digit dial methodology. For the landline sample, a respondent was randomly selected
from all adults in the household. For the cell sample, interviews were conducted with the person who answered
the phone. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using live interviewers.
The data have been weighted to reflect U.S. Census figures on demographic variables.
The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points.
The error for subgroups may be higher and is available by request. The margin of error includes the effects of
standard weighting procedures which enlarge sampling error slightly.
This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

The U.S. Supreme Court
March 17-20, 2016
Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
17
11
22
17
75
80
69
76
8
9
9
7

Jan16a
%
15
75
10

Q62. How important to you, personally, is the issue of which judges sit on the Supreme Court? Is this issue extremely
important, very important, somewhat important, or not at all important?

Extremely important
Very important
Somewhat important
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

37
31
22
8
1

49
27
17
8
-

34
37
22
6
1

33
29
26
10
3

Jul05a
22
37
30
10
1

Q63. As you may know, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in February. How closely would you say
you have been following news about the appointment of the next Supreme Court justice -- very closely, somewhat
closely, not very closely, or not at all closely?
Very closely
Somewhat closely
Not very closely
Not at all closely
Don't know/No answer

29
34
18
18
1

35
31
21
13
1

33
34
16
16
1

22
35
19
22
2

Q64. Barack Obama has nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. What do you think the Senate should do
should the Senate hold a vote on whether to confirm Merrick Garland or should the Senate wait until next year for the
new president to nominate someone?
Vote on nominee
Wait until next year
Don't know/No answer

53
42
5

32
65
2

75
21
4

48
45
7

Q65. Is your opinion of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you
heard enough about Merrick Garland yet to have an opinion?

Favorable
Not favorable
Undecided
Haven't heard enough
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
21
10
37
14
7
16
2
6
15
18
10
18
55
54
50
60
1
1
2
1

Q66. As you may know, Senate Republican leaders have said they will not hold hearings on any Supreme Court justice
nominated by Barack Obama because they want to wait until the next president is in office. Do you think Senate
Republican leaders are doing this mostly for political reasons or mostly because they think it is the best thing for the
country?
Mostly political reasons
Mostly because they think
best for country
Don't know/No answer

73

52

90

73

23
3

45
3

9
1

22
5

Weighted

Total Respondents

Unweighted
1,252

Republicans
Democrats
Independents

351
424
477

320
420
420