When Trust in Courts Decline: A Few Ideas to Improve for Overal Societal Health (The Story of the Clan)

(Illustrative Only)
Even if Lady Justice 
is blindfolded
she still must seek
true north justice least
trust declines. 
There are long tail
impact.

There should be no
such thing as a partisan
judge. It is more
important than
parties or politics.
Same can be said for
other branches.

Healthy communities and societies depend in part on a strong justice system, one of the three main pillars of government. Its role is to uphold shared rules and values—protecting rights, enforcing laws, and interpreting essential contracts like the Constitution. Such a system keeps us safe and seeks to serve others. We should always support and appreciate good officials that do the right thing. On the flip side, we also have responsibilities to correct what is wrong, dysfunctional, or misguided. 

The hypothetical Story of the Clan illustrated as a learning thought experiment how corruption and hate can weaken justice. Even in that allegory, many people tried to do the right thing, but risks remained because entitlement over institutional outcomes. The inability to correct in one place allowed for potential victimization of others in other places and times.  This highlights the need for constant attention and improvement within institutions to protect the whole.

Courts are central to maintaining public trust. Their decisions shape both social stability and economic outcomes. When trust declines, it’s important to address the causes. At a basic level, this means correcting wrongdoing—especially violations of rights such as freedom of religion,speech, safety—when it is identified. Rights being a hint of how we see each other as having inherent value; or lack thereof. Justice is Blind means that it should not differentiate by religion, race, politics, wealth, clan affiliation, etc.

(Do you get the duel meaning of justice is blind? She is impartial but also the sarcastic side such as unable to see what she is doing or doing wrong. A moral and cognitive blindness. Let us just keep with the more common idea that blind means impartial as a worthy goal of justice systems.)

Trust is strongest when decisions are grounded in law and fairness, not politics or bias. When partisanship or prejudice influences outcomes, confidence in the system declines. It is a natural consequence of choices because essentially it is the society as a collective whole that is harmed and weakened. The exploratory Story of the Clan furthers this concept that due to corruption and bias the commonly utilized answers were known much earlier than the questions leading to intentional injustices and violations of the Bill of Rights (Specifically Article 1) 

History shows that unjust practices can have long-term impact such as ruling that were once legally accepted, despite being morally wrong (i.e. slavery as a primary example in early US history or in WWII Germany where laws and hate comingled.). While laws have evolved, hopefully the moral conscious that goes with those laws, still bias can still affect decisions today, making ongoing correction essential. 

There are encouraging signs, including increased focus on fairness and accountability. Trust can be rebuilt when courts remain committed to their core role: applying the law impartially and correcting errors when they occur. Failure to correct leads to declining trust. Justice being a perfect word in an imperfect world. Yet still we should reach for it so as to create an upward trajectory. 

In the end, consistency builds trust. No system is perfect, but a sustained commitment to fairness and improvement strengthens both society and the economy. Sometimes just being thoughtful can change a persons lens and that is the purpose of a writing like this. It is meant as a type of thought experiment in which one can come to their own conclusion as long as they took the time to explore principles and think about them. It helps people define their own beliefs. 

Research suggests that trust is one factor that supports economic development. When people share a baseline level of trust, it reinforces stability, cooperation, and long-term growth. While many factors shape economic outcomes, improving trust—through accountability and effective checks and balances—can positively influence human capital, institutional strength, and long-term performance (In Theory)

Complex systems do not operate in isolation; each part influences the others. Where there is room for improvement, it should be pursued. This is why strong systems prioritize competence and integrity (i.e. best and brightest)—selecting capable, principled individuals helps institutions function more effectively and deliver better outcomes over time. Our Story of the Clan helps us understand the risks of group think, exclusionary values, confusion of purpose.

What do you think would improve trust? How about outcomes? This is where you can explore your own thoughts on the topic and consider whether there is room for improvement and how might go about improving it? Is it important to correct wrongoing or worth the effort? There are some good ideas out there but you need to come to your own conclusion. Your perspective counts as well and it is ok if it is different than others. We are all in this ship together so everyone should think for themselves. 

U.S. Trust in Courts (2005–2025)

Key point: Metrics show a decline but we can reverse that with greater commitment to doing what is right and aligned.

Period	Approx. Trust Level	Source (copyable links)
2005–2010	~55%–65%+ confidence in Supreme Court of the United States	Gallup long-term trend (historical averages referenced in 2022 report): https://news.gallup.com/poll/402044/supreme-court-trust-job-approval-historical-lows.aspx
2010–2019	~50%–60% (gradual decline)	Same Gallup trend data (multi-decade tracking): https://news.gallup.com/poll/402044/supreme-court-trust-job-approval-historical-lows.aspx
2019	~68% (recent high point referenced in trend comparisons)	Gallup trend overview page: https://news.gallup.com/topic/supreme-court.aspx
2022	47% trust in judicial branch	Gallup report: https://news.gallup.com/poll/402044/supreme-court-trust-job-approval-historical-lows.aspx
2024	35% confidence (record low)	Gallup analysis: https://news.gallup.com/poll/653897/americans-pass-judgment-courts.aspx
2024 (confirmation)	35% confidence, −24 point drop since 2020	AP/Fortune summary of Gallup: https://fortune.com/2024/12/17/americans-trust-judicial-system-courts-drops-to-record-low-gallup-poll/
2025	~40%–47% range (still near historic lows)	Gallup updates: https://news.gallup.com/topic/supreme-court.aspx
2025 (favorability context)	Favorable views near 30-year low (~50% favorable, down sharply from 70% in 2020)

Title: Public Confidence in the Supreme Court Remains Near Historic Lows

Key point: Partisanship impacts decision making. Reducing partisanship may increase decision making.

• Favorability toward the U.S. Supreme Court remains near a three-decade low, with public opinion roughly split between favorable and unfavorable views.
• About half of Americans now express an unfavorable opinion of the Court, marking a significant decline compared with earlier years when positive views were dominant.
• The drop in confidence represents a sharp shift from 2020, when a strong majority of Americans viewed the Court positively.
• Opinions of the Court are highly polarized along partisan lines, with Republicans much more likely than Democrats to hold favorable views.
• Broader trends suggest declining trust in government institutions, with the Supreme Court reflecting wider concerns about political influence and institutional legitimacy.

Pew Research Center. (2025, September 3). Favorable views of Supreme Court remain near historic low. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/09/03/favorable-views-of-supreme-court-remain-near-historic-low/

Judicial Efficiency and Its Impact on Financial System Performance

Key Point: As one of the structural legs of society it is best to improve each leg as much as possible because they have a broad tail influence.

• The study examines whether more efficient judicial systems contribute to stronger and more effective financial systems across countries.
• Findings suggest that faster, more reliable courts improve contract enforcement, which enhances investor confidence and financial market development.
• Judicial efficiency is linked to increased access to credit, as lenders are more willing to provide financing when legal enforcement mechanisms are dependable.
• Inefficient legal systems, characterized by delays and high costs, can discourage business activity and reduce overall financial system performance.
• The research highlights the broader economic importance of judicial reforms in promoting growth, investment, and financial stability.

Khan, M. A., Khan, M. A., Khan, M. A., Hussain, S., & Fenyves, V. (2024). Justice and finance: Does judicial efficiency contribute to financial system efficiency? Borsa Istanbul Review, 24(2), 248–255. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214845023001709