Trump appointee says her stern words were ‘warranted’ after heated disagreement over judicial power.
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett isn’t backing down from her controversial comments about fellow Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson – and she’s got a Louisiana-style explanation for her unusually sharp tone.
Speaking to a packed Manhattan auditorium Thursday night, the Trump-appointed conservative justice defended her recent “spicy” opinion that took direct aim at Jackson’s legal reasoning, saying her colleague’s arguments demanded a forceful response.
“I thought Justice Jackson had made an argument in strong terms that I thought warranted a response,” Barrett told journalist Bari Weiss at Lincoln Center, kicking off a promotional tour for her new book “Listening to the Law.”
The 52-year-old justice, known for her typically measured judicial tone, acknowledged her unusually sharp language but insisted it was necessary. “I personally tend not to be spicy for the sake of being spicy, but I am from New Orleans and everyone likes a little Tabasco sometimes,” Barrett quipped, drawing laughs from the crowd.
The Court Was Battle
The drama stems from a high-profile case involving universal injunctions – court orders that can block government policies nationwide. Barrett authored the majority opinion effectively banning such sweeping injunctions, while Jackson wrote a dissenting opinion defending their use.
In her majority ruling, Barrett didn’t hold back, accusing Jackson of supporting an “imperial judiciary” and dismissively telling readers not to “dwell” on her colleague’s dissent. The unusually personal language raised eyebrows among court watchers who noted the stark departure from typical Supreme Court collegiality.
But Barrett stood firm Thursday, insisting her critique targeted ideas, not personalities. “I attack ideas. I don’t attack people,” she said, crediting the philosophy to her former boss, the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Friends” instead of “deepest respect
Despite the legal fireworks, Barrett was quick to emphasize her personal regard for Jackson, the court’s newest member and first Black female justice.
“I have the deepest respect for Justice Jackson,” Barrett stressed. “We just disagreed about the scope of judicial power.”
The universal injunction controversy has become a significant headache for the Trump administration, with lower court judges repeatedly blocking key presidential policies – only to see the Supreme Court frequently reverse those decisions.
Barrett’s One-Word Takes fire on Her Supreme Court Colleagues
In a lighter moment, Barrett participated in a rapid-fire word association game about her eight colleagues. Chief Justice John Roberts earned a simple “Chief,” while Justice Neil Gorsuch got “out west,” and Brett Kavanaugh was dubbed “sports.”
When it came to Jackson, Barrett paused thoughtfully before settling on “actor, Broadway” – perhaps a nod to Jackson’s theatrical background and dramatic legal writing style.
The appearance marked Barrett’s latest effort to explain her judicial philosophy. At the same time, the court enjoys its summer recess, though her “spicy” defense suggests the conservative-liberal tensions on America’s highest court remain as heated as ever.
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