Ketanji Brown Jackson Declares Supreme Court Justices "Harmonious": A Blueprint for Civil Disagreement
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed on Tuesday that the justices maintain a positive rapport, stating they "get along well" despite their diverse perspectives. She described this dynamic as "a model for learning how to disagree without being disagreeable."
In an interview with "CBS Mornings," Jackson elaborated, "The court is very good at compartmentalizing, meaning that we focus on our work." She emphasized the diligence of the justices, noting, "We work very hard. We come up with our own individual opinions as to how we think about the law."
Jackson highlighted the importance of adaptability within the court, saying, "We're sort of always thinking about the law in different ways. And so we have learned how to adapt to being in an environment with people who have very strongly held but different views."
Describing the justices as a collective, she remarked that they are "very collegial." Jackson made history nearly four years ago as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court and has since become a prominent voice against certain policies from the Trump administration.
Her dissent in a significant nationwide injunction case last year, which limited federal judges' authority stemming from Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, drew a pointed response from Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Barrett, joined by five other justices, criticized Jackson's dissent as "choosing a startling line of attack."
When the court ultimately sided with the administration's stance, Jackson stood firm in her dissent, labeling the order as "not only truly unfortunate, but also hubristic and senseless."
As the Supreme Court deliberates on various contentious issues, including Trump's tariffs, Jackson noted, "There are lots of nuanced legal issues that the court has to thoroughly consider." She explained, "We actually deliberate over a period of time where each of the justices decides how they feel about the issues and writes, and it takes a while to write."
In her latest book "Lovely One," aimed at young adults, Jackson includes a speech she delivered during a high school debate tournament in 1987. She shared with "CBS Mornings" that the speech's purpose was to encourage individuals to "really get people to focus on the moment and try to not be so overwhelmed by the circumstance."
Reflecting on the current divisive climate in U.S. history, she acknowledged past periods of division but expressed optimism: "We've certainly had other periods in our history in which we've been divided and we've come through them." Jackson urged individuals to concentrate on their values and community involvement, asserting, "If people really focus on their own values and the things that matter to them, if they invest in their communities and in their loved ones, we will make it through."
