Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recently found herself at the center of public scrutiny following her attendance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The justice, who was in the running for Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling for her memoir "Lovely One," witnessed a ceremony punctuated by political statements regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"While justices occasionally attend public functions, it is rare—if ever—that they are present at events amplifying overtly political messages," Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote in her letter to Chief Justice Roberts.
The event, held on a Sunday evening, gained additional attention due to comments made by artists such as Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny and singer Billie Eilish, who both highlighted immigration issues during their speeches. Observers noted that Justice Jackson, alongside her husband, appeared engaged with the ceremony and was seen applauding, which some conservative commentators suggest could compromise her perceived neutrality on future immigration cases.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine and other social media critics argue that Justice Jackson’s presence at such an overtly political event might suggest an alignment with liberal ideologies, potentially conflicting with the expectation of judicial impartiality. Tea Party Patriots founder Jenny Beth Martin took to social media platform X, suggesting that Justice Jackson should prioritize her judicial duties over public appearances.
Despite the controversy, no footage has emerged showing Jackson's reactions to the anti-ICE messages specifically. The award for which she was nominated ultimately went to the Dalai Lama for his work "Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama."
The scrutiny extends to Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R), who has formally requested Chief Justice John Roberts to review whether Justice Jackson’s Grammy attendance might infringe upon the Supreme Court Code of Conduct. This code requires justices to maintain public trust in their impartiality. Blackburn’s concerns are amplified by the fact that the Supreme Court is handling cases related to President Trump, including those concerning birthright citizenship.
While Justice Jackson is known to occasionally align with her more conservative peers, as seen in a 2024 decision, her appearance at the Grammys has intensified the discussion about the propriety of justices attending politically charged public events. Legal scholars acknowledge that while it is common for justices to attend various public gatherings, an event with explicit political themes is considered atypical.
With the Supreme Court set to resume oral arguments at the end of February, the debate on Justice Jackson's impartiality is likely to continue, especially in light of the high-profile cases on the docket.
