In a rare and bold move, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s relentless attacks on the judiciary, signaling a significant moment in the ongoing tension between the executive branch and the nation’s highest court. Speaking at a judicial conference in Puerto Rico on May 1, 2025, Jackson denounced what she described as “relentless attacks” on federal judges, warning that such rhetoric threatens the rule of law and undermines the democratic principles that govern the United States. Her remarks, which earned a standing ovation, were a direct response to Trump’s repeated verbal assaults on judges who have ruled against his administration’s sweeping policy initiatives, particularly on immigration and government restructuring.
Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, did not mention Trump by name but left little doubt about the target of her critique. She emphasized that these attacks are not random but appear “designed to intimidate the judiciary,” a sentiment echoed by legal scholars who have labeled the current standoff between Trump and the courts a constitutional crisis. Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has clashed with judges over executive orders aimed at mass deportations, restricting birthright citizenship, and firing federal employees. His administration has faced over 220 lawsuits in its first 100 days, with many judges issuing rulings that block or limit these policies, prompting Trump to label them “communist” or call for their impeachment.
The Supreme Court itself has been drawn into the fray, issuing decisions that require the Trump administration to uphold due process for immigrants, such as in the case of Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations. In one notable instance, the court ordered the return of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador, though the administration has been slow to comply, citing logistical challenges. Such defiance has fueled concerns about the erosion of judicial authority, with Jackson’s speech serving as a clarion call for the judiciary to stand firm.
This is not the first time a Supreme Court justice has pushed back against Trump. In March 2025, Chief Justice John Roberts rebuked Trump’s call to impeach a federal judge who ruled against his deportation plans, stating that impeachment is not a tool for settling judicial disagreements. However, Jackson’s remarks carry particular weight given her position as the court’s newest and most progressive member, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022. Her willingness to address the “elephant in the room” has been praised by legal analysts, who note that justices rarely engage in such public confrontations.
The broader context of Jackson’s speech reveals a judiciary under siege. Judges’ families have faced threats, and at least one judge, Milwaukee County’s Hannah Dugan, was arrested for allegedly obstructing immigration enforcement. As Trump continues to nominate conservative judges to cement his influence, Jackson’s stand underscores the judiciary’s critical role in checking executive power. Her words remind us that the independence of the courts is not just a legal principle but a cornerstone of democracy itself.
