SURVEY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dan an Becker Lau aurie Dudgeon Dav avid Rottman an Jesse Je sse Rutle Rutledge dge Chief Justice Mar ary Russell Utah Kentucky NCSC NCSC Missouri 2 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
METHODOLOGY WHAT: NCSC nationwide telephone survey WHO: Conducted by GBA Strategies WHEN: November 12-16, 2014 POLLED: 1000 Registered Voters STATS: MOE +/- 2.8% 19 times out of 20 3 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
KEY FINDINGS Court users express confidence Courts remain the There is a strong demand The public worries in fairness of proceedings, but most trusted branch for greater availability of that politics undermines have doubts about customer service of government online services the impartiality of the and job performance court system 4 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 1 Q: “Please state how well each of the following words or phrases describes the state courts.” The public is more optimistic about the work percent of the state saying well or very well courts than in 2012. 5 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 2 Q: “Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?” Voters also see improvements in procedural percent fairness attributes that strongly since 2012 survey. or somewhat agree 6 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
Q: “Regardless of the outcome, were you Q: “How would you rate the job being satis fi ed with the fairness of the process in done by courts in (state)?” your dealings with the court system?” FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 Those who report direct interaction with …But are more likely to give lower ratings the courts are satisfied…. on job performance and customer service. No Direct Direct Contact Contact 41% 50% Excellent/Good Fair/Poor 56% 48% 7 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 4 , CONT’D Q: “Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?” …But are more likely to give lower ratings on job performance and customer service. 8 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 5 Statement 1 “(State) courts are e ff ectively using Voters are split technology to lower costs and improve on whether the customer service.” courts are doing Statement 2 enough with “(State) courts are technology. not e ff ectively using technology to improve their own operations or how they interact with the people they serve.” Don’t Know 9 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 6 Q: “If you had business with the courts and this service was available online, how likely would you be to use it?” The public is willing to conduct court business online. percent saying they would de fi nitely or probably use the service if available online. 10 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 7 Statement 1 “Judges in (state) courts are selected based on their quali fi cations and experience.” Statement 2 Voters are wary “Judges in (state) courts are there because of personal connections or political in fl uence.” that politics is Don’t Know undermining the impartiality of the system. Statement 1 “Judges in (state) courts make decisions based on an objective review of facts and the law.” Statement 2 “Judges in (state) courts make decisions based more on their own beliefs and political pressure.” Don’t Know 11 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 7 , CONT’D In the nine states with contested partisan elections for state high courts, the 46 percent who agree with the “political pressure” statement rises to 51 percent. Voters are wary that politics is undermining the impartiality of the system. 12 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 8 Q: “How many hours each week do you think judges in (state) courts spend on duties directly related to their judicial responsibilities?” The public does not subscribe to the myth that judges are underworked… 13 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 9 Q: “Do you believe judges in (state) courts are paid too much, not enough, or about the right amount?” About …But there Right is virtually no Too public support Don’t Much Know for a campaign on judicial 58 % 23 % 17 % 5 % salaries. Not Enough 14 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 10 Q : “How much do you estimate judges in (state) courts are paid annually?” Voters have a reasonable understanding of how much state judges 11 % of state supreme court earn. judges earn more than $200K per year - NCSC Survey of Judicial Salaries 15 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 11 Q: “If you were considering taking a case to court, would this make you less likely to go to court?” The cost of hiring an attorney is perceived as the greatest barrier to access to justice… 16 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
FIGURE 11 , CONT’D Statement 1 “(State) courts are e ff ectively providing ...and the courts information for individuals without are not seen as attorneys.” doing enough Statement 2 to help people “(State) courts are navigate the not doing enough for individuals system without without attorneys.” a lawyer. Don’t Know 17 A 2014 NCSC Public Opinion Survey THE STATE OF STATE COURTS
For more information, visit: ncsc.org 18 �
Recommend
More recommend
