Washington (CNN) Americans' approval of the US Supreme Court fell to 49% this year after hitting a 10-year high in 2020, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday, underscoring the country's changing opinion of the newly solidified 6-3 conservative majority court. The 49% approval rating -- and 44% disapproval rating -- given to the high court stands in stark contrast to where public opinion on the court was last year, when 58% of Americans told Gallup they approved of the court. The new figure represents the first sub-50% rating the court has received since 2017. While the poll shows that Democrats and Republicans both gave the Supreme Court a 51% approval rating this year, the ranking from independents was lower. The new national figure provides insight into how the country views the court after a busy term marked by decisions favorable to both conservatives and liberals and by the court's conservative majority, which was strengthened by the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett last year following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Source: CNN July 28, 2021 08:36 UTC