SCOTUS approval rating below 50 percent for first time

Public opinion of the nation's highest court has for the first time dropped below 50 percent favorable, according to a Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday.

The survey found that 48 percent had a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court, with 38 percent holding an unfavorable opinion.

The numbers show a four-point drop since March, when 52 percent held favorable opinions of the court.

High-profile decisions since then include invalidating a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and striking down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

The largest drop was among black Americans. Pew recorded the lowest favorability rating for the court among blacks since 1985.

In the March survey, 61 percent of black Americans had a favorable view of the court to 24 percent unfavorable. That support dropped to 44 percent favorable and 41 percent unfavorable.

Along party lines, Democrats had a more positive view of the court, with 54 percent holding a favorable opinion. Republicans held a 48 percent favorable opinion and Independents 47 percent.