admin
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s weekend appearance at the Grammys has set off a firestorm among patriots who expect our judges to act like judges, not celebrity activists. Jackson was in the audience as a nominee for her audiobook narration, but conservative voices say she was seen smiling and applauding during an awards show dominated by anti-ICE messaging. The controversy exploded on cable and social media as pundits asked whether a sitting justice should mingle so openly with partisan spectacle.
The ceremony itself was unmistakably political, with major artists using their acceptance speeches to blast Immigration and Customs Enforcement and promote “ICE OUT” slogans that cheered on lawlessness. Performers including Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny made pointed attacks on enforcement policy and many attendees wore lapel pins signaling solidarity with those attacks. For hardworking Americans who value the rule of law, watching entertainers turn an awards show into a political mob is both shameful and dangerous.
Republican leaders and legal watchdogs immediately demanded explanations, with Senator Marsha Blackburn urging Chief Justice John Roberts to review whether Justice Jackson’s conduct violated the Court’s ethical expectations. Fox commentators and conservative panels have amplified the call for accountability, rightly asking why a Supreme Court justice would place herself at the center of a partisan, anti-law-enforcement gala. If the Court is to retain public trust, appearances matter as much as rulings.
To be scrupulously fair, videos circulated so far do not clearly show Jackson applauding at the exact moments speakers attacked ICE, and some media outlets note that the camera focused on her during other parts of the broadcast. That nuance does not erase the optics: a justice who enjoys the applause of a crowd denouncing federal law enforcement is going to face legitimate questions about impartiality. Transparency and a prompt explanation from the Court would defuse partisan myths and restore confidence.
Senator Blackburn cited the Court’s recently adopted Code of Conduct in demanding an inquiry, and conservatives are right to insist that the highest bench meet the same standards it expects of lower courts. When justices quietly refrain from applause at the State of the Union to avoid even the appearance of partisanship, a different standard seems to apply when a justice is rubbing shoulders with Hollywood’s political flash mobs. That double standard corrodes respect for institutions and must be confronted.
Americans who love this country and its laws deserve answers — not spin, not excuses. Chief Justice Roberts should open a straightforward ethics review, and Justice Jackson should volunteer a clear statement about what she saw and why she believed attendance was appropriate. If there is any hint that her neutrality is compromised in cases involving immigration or law enforcement, the honorable course is recusal to preserve the integrity of the Court for all citizens.
