Controversial Decisions in Supreme Court

Public opinion is divided over two recent high-profile rulings of the US Supreme Court, according to a Harris Poll conducted in mid-July. The rulings cover murder convictions where the defendant has no competent lawyer, and the right of a university to use race as one of several factors when deciding whom to admit.

The Court decided that 'a university is allowed to use race as one of several factors when deciding whom to admit' - the American public disagrees by four to one, with 76% against, 19% in favour and 6% not sure.

In the case of another decision, opinion is more divided. The Court ruled that 'a defendant accused of murder should not be convicted if he does not have a competent lawyer to defend him'. Forty-eight per cent of Americans agree with the decision and 38% disagree, with 14 per cent unsure.

Among other findings, the Poll found that fully 32% of Republicans (but only 19% of all adults) disagree with the Court's ruling that 'It is not illegal for consenting adults to have homosexual sex in their own homes'. Perhaps more interestingly, the 19% of the public which agrees with the Supreme Court decision that a university may use race as one factor when deciding who to admit, includes 29% of Democrats but only 10% of Republicans and 19% of Independents. Furthermore, while only 12% of whites and 20% of Hispanics approve this decision, a 60% majority of blacks support it.

The Harris Poll(r) was conducted online between July 14 and 20th with 2,215 adults nationwide.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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