Ketanji Brown Jackson refuses to weigh in on court packing

Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson refused Tuesday to weigh in on whether there should be more than nine justices on the high court, a move progressive activists have advocated for in recent years.

“My North Star is the consideration of the proper role of a judge in our constitutional scheme, and in my view, judges should not be speaking into political issues and certainly not a nominee for a position on the Supreme Court,” the nominee told the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

The judge said she agreed with Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who refused to opine on the topic during her confirmation hearing in 2020. 

Judge Jackson also batted down a notion that dark money groups have “bought” the high court.

“I don’t have any reason to believe that is the case,” she said, adding that she holds all members of the Supreme Court in high esteem.