Pollster Lee Miringoff said in an interview that aired Thursday on “What America’s Thinking” that the Supreme Court could make some surprise rulings in the near future.
The court currently is seen as tilting to the right, with five justices seen as more conservative and four seen as more liberal after Justice Brett Kavanaugh replaced traditional swing vote Anthony Kennedy last year.
“I think there will be some surprises, and I think there already have been with the new court,” Miringoff, director of the Marist Poll, told Hill.TV’s Jamal Simmons.
“There have been some votes that aren’t just automatics. So I think we’re going to get that,” he continued.
Miringoff went on to cite Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is known for his conservative stance on most issues, ruling in favor of the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare.
“With ObamaCare, that was, what?” Miringoff said, imitating a surprised tone. “That’s the last thing people expected of them.”
Kavanaugh, who was confirmed last year after a contentious process, sided with the liberal justices in December in a decision that prevented two states from defunding Planned Parenthood.
The move from Kavanaugh, who was President Trump’s second Supreme Court appointment, alarmed various abortion opponents.
— Julia Manchester
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