New polling data indicates that former President Donald J. Trump‘s conviction by a Manhattan jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records has undermined Americans’ confidence in the country’s judicial system. The YouGov poll, conducted from April 16 to May 31, reveals a decline in trust in the American jury system, particularly among independents and Republicans.
According to the poll, overall trust in the jury system fell from 54 percent to 51 percent within the six-week period. Independents’ trust decreased by four points, while Republicans saw a more significant drop of 17 points. Conversely, trust among Democrats increased by ten points, highlighting a widening 35-percentage-point gap between Republicans and Democrats compared to an eight-point gap before Trump’s conviction.
Despite the erosion of trust in the judicial system, the survey indicates that few Americans believe Trump‘s conviction will adversely affect his political prospects. Only 32 percent of independents and 18 percent of Republicans think the conviction will harm Trump’s campaign. Meanwhile, 58 percent of Democrats say the conviction hurts Trump. Overall, just 34 percent of respondents say it will negatively impact the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
Further, the conviction appears to have a minimal effect on voter behavior among independents. Four percent of independents who initially planned to vote for Trump no longer intend to support him, while an equal percentage of those who did not plan to vote for him before the conviction now plan to do so.
Declining trust in the American judiciary has also been fueled by Democrat efforts to weaponize the Department of Justice (DOJ) and court system. The National Pulse reported last week that Democrats are ramping up efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Court ahead of several major opinions being issued this month.
