Reuters/DecisionQuest Poll Shows Most Americans Have Lost Trust in Leaders over the Last Four Years.

LOS ANGELES -- Poll Paints Dim Picture for Corporate America in the Courtroom and Presidential Contenders

A nationwide poll found more than 61 percent of Americans report losing trust in leaders and institutions over the last four years in the wake of election recount, war, and corporate scandals. A whopping 90-95 percent of those people who say their trust has decreased would find for the individual plaintiff in lawsuits, such as sexual harassment or corporate scandal cases.

Leading newswire service Reuters partnered with the nation's foremost trial consulting firm, DecisionQuest, to research how trust has been affected and how national skepticism might impact juror attitudes.

"The common theme found throughout so many major events in recent years is a perceived abuse of power, from news of church abuse cover-ups to Martha Stewart," said Dr. Philip Anthony, DecisionQuest CEO. "Americans are more suspicious of authority now than they were four years ago. This distrust is going to have consequences in our justice system, where witnesses or defendants are expecting the benefit of the doubt."

Of those who have lost trust over the last four years, women report greater deterioration than do men. An astounding 66 percent of women report less trust in leaders and institutions; 55 percent of men do. There is an even greater divide between Democrats, Republicans, and ethnic groups--78 percent of Democrats report less trust in leaders and institutions, while only 39 of Republicans do so. Similarly, 84 percent of African-Americans report their trust has fallen, while only 57 percent of whites do.

All elected officials generally receive mediocre trust scores, getting Cs, while there is more disagreement about the trustworthiness of specific politicians like President Bush and Senator Kerry. Although both presidential candidates received C grades overall, President Bush's score resulted from more polarized rankings on either end of the scale.

Reporters fared no better than politicians, earning Cs. As a point of fact, television reporters, President Bush, and corporate executives have lost the most ground over the last four years.

Regionalism also revealed differences in decreased trust levels. Nearly 77 percent of respondents in the New England region report having less trust as a result of events in the last four years. Conversely, the national average is 61 percent. The Upper Midwest ranked the lowest at 48 percent.