Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Calls Trump’s Attacks on Judges a Threat to Democracy

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a strong warning Thursday about the growing threats to judicial independence, criticizing what she described as coordinated attacks on judges — a veiled reference to former President Donald Trump and his allies, according to Politico.

Speaking at a legal conference in Puerto Rico, Jackson emphasized that the “relentless attacks” on judges are not random or harmless but represent a direct threat to the democratic system.

“The attacks are not random. They seem designed to intimidate those of us who serve in this critical capacity,” Jackson said, per Politico. “The threats and harassment are attacks on our democracy, on our system of government. And they ultimately risk undermining our Constitution and the rule of law.”

‘Elephant in the Room’ Remarks Echo Trump’s Escalating Rhetoric

While she did not explicitly name Trump, Jackson acknowledged she was addressing “the elephant in the room.” Her comments came on the same night the former president delivered a speech at the University of Alabama, where he again criticized the judiciary.

“The courts are trying to stop me from doing the job that I was elected to do,” Trump said. He also questioned due process rights for undocumented immigrants, asking, “How can you give due process to people who came into our country illegally?”

Jackson Has Previously Opposed Trump-Era Legal Measures

Justice Jackson, appointed by President Joe Biden, has a record of challenging Trump administration policies in her judicial rulings prior to joining the Supreme Court. In one recent case, she described a deportation effort as removing individuals to “a notoriously brutal, foreign-run prison,” adding, “For lovers of liberty, this should be quite concerning.”

In another case involving teacher training grants, Jackson sharply criticized the Department of Education for a “robotic rollout” and “highly questionable behavior.”

Chief Justice Roberts Also Weighed In Earlier

Jackson isn’t the only justice to push back against Trump’s rhetoric. Earlier this year, Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare statement defending the integrity of judicial review and indirectly rebuking Trump’s calls to impeach judges.

“For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” Roberts said. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”

As legal tensions continue to mount ahead of the 2024 election cycle, the judiciary’s role remains a flashpoint — with some justices warning that the country’s commitment to the rule of law could be at stake.