Weekly Briefs: Fewer than half of Americans approve of SCOTUS; ex-judge denies raping secretary
Supreme Court approval rating hits 4-year low Only 49% of Americans approve of the way the U.S. Supreme Court is handling its job, according to a July poll by Gallup. The approval rating is the lowest since 2017. Last year, 58% approved of the Supreme Court’s job. Bare majorities of both Republicans and Democrats approve of the court, while only 46% of independents indicated approval. (Gallup press release, USA Today, the Washington Post) Ex-judge denies rape allegations A former judge in New York’s trial-level supreme court is denying lawsuit allegations that he repeatedly compelled his secretary to perform oral sex in his chambers and raped her at his home. Matthew Rosenbaum says the sex was consensual. After the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct opened an investigation, Rosenbaum resigned in 2019 and agreed to never again seek judicial office. The sheriff’s office says it is investigating Rosenbaum without specifying the reason why. (Law360, Law.com, WHEC)