Who's the best known justice on the Supreme Court? Brett Kavanaugh tops Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Richard Wolf and Craig Gilbert, USA TODAY

It didn't take long for Brett Kavanaugh to become the best known Supreme Court justice.

An extensive new poll of 1,423 adults by Marquette University Law School finds name recognition of Kavanaugh, after one year as an associate justice, topping that of 86-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg among the nine members of the court.

Unfortunately for Kavanaugh, it's likely for the wrong reasons. His contentious, 50-48 Senate confirmation last October followed accusations of sexual misconduct from his high school and college days, which he denied. Ginsburg, on the other hand, has become a popular cultural icon, known for her distinctive dissenting collars.

Eighty-three percent of those polled said they have heard of Kavanaugh, compared to Ginsburg's 79%. By contrast, only two-thirds can identify John Roberts after 14 years as the nation's 17th chief justice. And nearly half of those polled have never heard of Associate Justices Stephen Breyer, who's served a quarter century, and Elena Kagan.

Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, top right, towers over his colleagues in this photo and is better known, following his contentious Senate confirmation battle last year, according to a poll by Marquette University Law School. Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, seated, is a close second.
Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, top right, towers over his colleagues in this photo and is better known, following his contentious Senate confirmation battle last year, according to a poll by Marquette University Law School. Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, seated, is a close second.

Twenty-five percent have a favorable opinion of Roberts and only 9% view him unfavorably. Most said they didn't know enough to rate him. Ginsburg and Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor cast similarly favorable impressions, with Ginsburg viewed favorably, 41%-17% and Sotomayor 29%-11%.

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Kavanaugh is the only justice with a net unfavorable rating: He was favored by 26% but viewed negatively by 32%, with the remainder saying they did not know enough to have an opinion. Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who also faced misconduct allegations during his confirmation in 1991, was the closest with a 27%-23% favorable tilt.

Kavanaugh also is the most polarizing justice. Republicans favor him by a 12-to-1 ratio, while Democrats don't by almost 10 to 1. And while men are split evenly, women view him unfavorably by more than a 3-to-2 ratio.

Roberts – who represents the new "swing" vote on the court following last year's retirement of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy – is the only justice viewed favorably on the right and left. He is nearly as popular among Democrats (24%-11%) as he is among Republicans (30%-9%). His rating by Republicans is the weakest among the five conservative justices.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brett Kavanaugh tops Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Best known on Supreme Court