On Saturday, December 14, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson participated in a Broadway performance of the musical comedy & Juliet. According to reports, Jackson’s role in the production, including two specific scenes, was written specifically for her appearance. The producers of & Juliet actively promoted her involvement, which also included a post-performance discussion with the audience. Justice Jackson, 54, reportedly described the experience as fulfilling her dream of being the first Supreme Court justice to perform on Broadway.
Legal commentator Josh Blackman, writing on The Volokh Conspiracy, raised questions about the implications of her participation. He questioned the value of the gift conferred by the producers, calling it “priceless.” Blackman also speculated whether her involvement in a production featuring “non-binary” characters might have implications for her impartiality in related cases, such as the Skrmetti case argued weeks earlier. He concluded this participation likely does not impact the Harvard Law School graduate’s judicial responsibilities.
Additional concerns, as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, revolved around the appropriateness of a sitting justice engaging in such a public spectacle that could be seen as advancing commercial interests. While opinions vary, some critics found the act unseemly, arguing that it might detract from the gravity of her judicial role. Others took a more lighthearted view, noting the justice’s evident enthusiasm and the unique nature of the event.
