Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson defends attending Grammys after GOPers criticize him over ‘impartiality’ concerns
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson defended her attendance at the Grammy Awards during an appearance Tuesday on “The View” after she was criticized for criticizing her impartiality.
Jackson attended the 2026 Grammy Awards after being nominated for the audiobook version of his memoir, “Lovely One.”
The show became a divisive topic with many celebrities talking about politics, such as Bad Bunny, who criticized President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts while accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, saying, “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens — we’re human, and we’re Americans.”
Singer Billie Eilish declared, “F- ICE” and that the US is a “stolen world.”
“So, you know, some Republicans criticized the fact that you were there,” co-host Joy Behar told Jackson.
“Given the kind of hot potato politics with Bad Bunny, etc., they didn’t think you should be there. In fact, Sen. Marsha Blackburn called for an investigation into your bias. So do you have an answer to that?”
“Yeah, I mean, when you’re in the public eye, criticism, you know, is part of the job. I’m sure you’ve all dealt with it,” the judge said.
“Another part of the job, actually my job, is communication with the public and education. When the judges are on break, which is what we are doing now, we have the opportunity to go out to the public in different ways.”
The night featured few political messages from the winners that attracted cheering crowds, and critics alleged that Jackson’s presence in the audience was inappropriate.
“While it is not unusual or unusual for a Supreme Court justice to attend a public event, it is rare – if ever – for our nation’s Supreme Court justices to attend an event where the attendees have amplified far-left propaganda,” Blackburn wrote in a letter to Roberts.
“I was actually in LA because of the court I was doing at the time,” Jackson said.
“And I just happened to be nominated for this Grammy, and I was just there, and I thought, ‘This is a great opportunity to showcase my work in this way and see what happens at the Grammys.'”
“Let’s not forget that he was nominated,” said Goldberg, to applause.
“You know, and there was no way of knowing what someone’s speech was going to be.”
“That’s right,” Jackson said.
“I would say Ms. Blackburn is a snowflake-ian,” Goldberg said.
“That’s her new name,” co-producer Sara Haines joked.
Jackson, the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court, was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed in 2022.
He is considered part of the court’s small group of three independent judges.
