Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor says it's disappointing for her to see the downturn in public opinion of the nation's highest court.

The Supreme Court used to be the highest ranked of the three branches of government, but O'Connor says the three are now closely ranked. On CBS's "Face The Nation," O'Connor was asked what has caused the court's decline in the public's eyes.

"I'm not sure, there's been some suggestion -- again by poll takers -- that trend down for the judicial branch began with the Bush-Gore decision," O'Connor said.

O'Connor says she has no regrets about that decision, even though she says it was a tough call. O'Connor has founded an online program to teach civics in America, a subject she says is not taught in many schools.