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5d ago

Ketanji Brown Jackson Warns of Rule-of-Law Crisis in Solo Dissent and Calls for Civic Action

Her keynote at the ESSENCE Festival highlighted her forceful dissenting opinions, urging citizens to stay engaged to uphold the rule of law.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks to the 2025 Supreme Court Fellows Program at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, on Thursday, February 13.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L-R) U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson listen as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Jackson issued a solo dissent on July 8 against an order allowing President Trump’s plan to downsize federal agencies, denouncing the majority’s decision as “hubristic and senseless” and cautioning against an unchecked executive branch.
  • In her dissent to Trump v. Casa, she warned that curbing nationwide injunctions targeting the birthright citizenship ban would allow “executive lawlessness to flourish” and imperil the rule of law.
  • At the ESSENCE Festival, Jackson read from her memoir, Lovely One, recounted her journey as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and reaffirmed her commitment to service and institutional integrity.
  • Over her third term, she authored more than 24 opinions—trailing only Justice Clarence Thomas—and led the bench in probing opposing counsel during oral arguments to underscore case impacts.
  • She defended her vocal dissenting approach in public forums, arguing that vigorous judicial debate and citizen engagement are crucial to preserving democratic accountability.