Breaking News Stories

All SCOTUS Justices Appear Irritated With Ketanji Brown Jackson — Including Her Fellow Liberals

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s unique perspective on the Supreme Court’s majority might suggest she’s taking a more progressive stance than previous Democratic justices.

Jackson appears to be setting a narrative about the state of the nation while facing pushback from her fellow justices.

On Tuesday, opponents of former President Donald Trump’s attempts to shrink the federal workforce couldn’t even rally support from Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Her concerns about the potential damage to democracy from Trump’s executive order prompted Jackson to criticize her colleagues for what she termed “hub arrogance and pointlessness.”

“I think there’s a chance Judge Jackson may be distancing herself from her leftist colleagues,” was a comment made during a Heritage Foundation panel discussion. “It’s evident that Jackson’s views have shifted from pre-Trump to now.”

Judge Elena Kagan didn’t side with Sotomayor and Jackson when district judges resisted following prior court decisions on deportations. She expressed doubt about the feasibility of enforcing compliance with orders that the court had stayed.

Following a Supreme Court decision that limited lower judges’ ability to issue national injunctions, Jackson penned a 21-page dissent, deeming the ruling “an existential threat to the rule of law.”

In her majority opinion, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, supported by her conservative colleagues, argued that Jackson’s stance diverged significantly from two centuries of precedent. “We don’t find merit in Judge Jackson’s arguments that contradict well-established law,” Barrett noted, remarking that Jackson’s views reflected a tendency for judicial overreach.

Jackson was largely in the majority during the 2024-2025 term, aligning with it 72% of the time, a figure backed by data from scotusblog. In comparison, Kagan was in the majority more often at 83%, while justices like Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas were all around 78%.

In the previous term, Jackson still matched that 72% mark, while Sotomayor and Kagan showed up less frequently in majorities.

Jackson’s comments at the Global Black Economic Forum raised eyebrows when she mentioned enjoying the chance to express her opinions as a judge. Some critics suggested that this perspective might indicate a misunderstanding of her responsibilities to uphold the law rather than share personal feelings.

Her dissent against a decision that favored oil companies regarding California’s electric vehicle regulations highlighted her worries about the court appearing too aligned with corporate interests. “I fear the court’s reputation could suffer due to an overemphasis on profit,” she expressed in her dissent.

Despite disagreements, Jackson managed to build consensus in key cases, even penning a unanimous decision at times.

Jackson’s higher-than-average percentage of agreement opinions is notable, making her the most aligned member of the court since 1937.

This week, as she promoted her memoir, “Lovely One,” Jackson emphasized the importance of the nation’s democracy in her remarks. She insisted on her right to voice her thoughts even if another justice had already articulated an opinion, explaining, “I often feel there’s more to contribute.”

During a recent oral argument session, Jackson reflected on the amount she spoke, describing her engagement during discussions as somewhat humorous. “As a judge, you have the freedom to go on as long as needed, and balancing that was a bit of a challenge,” she said.