Justice Jackson Comments on Recent Supreme Court Rulings

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned about the consequences of recent rulings during a speech at the American Law Institute's 2026 annual meeting on Monday. She said the court is not doing the country a service when it overturns lower court rulings in cases that affect federal agencies, workers, and grants.

Jackson noted that these decisions have real-world impacts and that the public often lacks clarity on the court's reasoning.

She emphasized the importance of the public viewing the court as neutral and nonpartisan. Recent polling shows the court near historic lows in public favorability. A Pew Research Center survey from August 2025 found 50 percent of Americans viewed the court favorably and 48 percent unfavorably. A YouGov poll reported 38 percent approval and 45 percent disapproval.

The decline in public trust follows ethics scandals and partisan divisions over major rulings. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority and has ruled on issues including immigration enforcement and federal agency operations. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the justices are good at compartmentalizing disagreements and maintain positive day-to-day interactions despite differing views on legal issues.