Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is under renewed scrutiny over her impartiality following her attendance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, where she was nominated for Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling for her memoir Lovely One.
The star-studded ceremony featured multiple performers delivering political statements critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing attention to Jackson’s reactions throughout the show.
Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny devoted his acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album to immigration issues, stating, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out.”
Billie Eilish also addressed the topic, declaring, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
Other performers, including Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, and Justin Bieber, wore pins reading “ICE OUT,” signaling support for immigrant causes and protesting federal enforcement policies.
Observers reported Jackson, seated with her husband, appeared engaged and applauded during the ceremony.
Conservative commentators have argued that her visible responses to the performers’ politically charged statements raise questions about her ability to remain neutral in cases involving immigration.
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine suggested that Jackson’s attendance may indicate alignment with liberal elites rather than strict adherence to judicial impartiality.
Social media critics were even more direct.
Tea Party Patriots founder Jenny Beth Martin wrote on X that Jackson’s actions demonstrated loyalty to liberal interests over the law and suggested she focus on her audiobook work instead of public appearances.
Viral clips circulated showing Jackson clapping during her nomination announcement by host Trevor Noah, though none specifically captured her reaction to anti-ICE statements.
Jackson ultimately did not win the award, which went to the Dalai Lama for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama, according to Just the News.
Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R) formally requested that Chief Justice John Roberts examine whether Jackson’s attendance could conflict with the Supreme Court Code of Conduct, which requires justices to act in ways that preserve public confidence in the judiciary’s impartiality.
“While justices occasionally attend public functions, it is rare—if ever—that they are present at events amplifying overtly political messages,” Blackburn wrote in a letter to Roberts, according to The Post.
Blackburn highlighted that the Supreme Court is currently reviewing high-profile cases connected to President Trump, including issues related to birthright citizenship.
She argued that public engagement at an event promoting explicit political messages could create questions about Jackson’s ability to remain neutral.
The visible support from attendees for anti-ICE rhetoric, combined with Jackson’s apparent approval, has intensified debate about the standards of judicial conduct.
Jackson has a history of public performances outside the courtroom, USA Today noted.
In late 2024, she appeared on Broadway in a queer reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, fulfilling a lifelong aspiration to perform on stage.
While she generally sides with her liberal colleagues on the bench, Jackson has occasionally joined conservative justices, including in a 2024 decision narrowing a key Capitol riot-related charge against the president.
Legal scholars note that Supreme Court justices often attend public events, but rarely ones with overt political overtones.
Critics say Jackson’s appearance at an event featuring explicit anti-ICE messaging is unusual and could fuel perceptions of bias.
The Supreme Court has not publicly commented on her Grammy attendance.
Oral arguments are scheduled to resume during the end of February, where questions about her impartiality may once again come into focus amid ongoing high-profile cases.
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