Fewer Voters Backing Bird, Survey Finds

Public opposition to the reelection of California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird has increased in the last few months, according to the latest California Poll by Mervin D. Field published on Wednesday.

At the same time, however, the sampling of 403 registered voters found the public is growing more supportive of the four other high court justices up for reelection 18 months from now.

Field, a longtime leader in public opinion sampling in the state, said he found it “remarkable” that the public would split so sharply against Bird but in favor of the other justices.

“It shows that this is less an anti-Supreme Court campaign at this point and more an anti-Rose Bird issue,” Field said.

The findings, with a margin of error of 5% either way, show that almost half the voters, 46%, believe Bird should be rejected in the 1986 general election when she and the other justices stand for a yes or no vote, without opponents. This is an increase from 35% who said she should be rejected just three months earlier.

Support for the chief justice was 36% in the latest sample, conducted April 30 to May 7. This compared to 30% of the voters who supported her retention in February.

For the other four justices up for election, support grew from 15% to 20% during the three months. Justice Stanley Mosk, who has indicated he might retire rather than seek reelection, was the most popular of the justices, with 51% of the public favoring his election and only 18% opposed.

In the latest sampling, Justice Malcolm M. Lucas was supported 44% to 12%, Justice Joseph R. Grodin 42% to 13% and Justice Cruz Reynoso 38% to 22%.

THE POLL These California Poll results show change in voter sentiment toward the five state Supreme Court justices facing election in 1986. ROSE BIRD

Feb. May Yes 30% 36% No 35% 46% Undecided 35% 18%

JOSEPH R. GRODIN

Feb. May Yes 22% 42% No 12% 13% Undecided 66% 45%

MALCOLM M. LUCAS

Feb. May Yes 24% 44% No 12% 12% Undecided 64% 44%

STANLEY MOSK

Feb. May Yes 32% 51% No 14% 18% Undecided 54% 31%

CRUZ REYNOSO

Feb. May Yes 23% 38% No 14% 22% Undecided 63% 40%