Ketanji Brown Jackson says Supreme Court justices "get along well"

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told CBS Mornings during an interview broadcast on Tuesday that the members of the United States Supreme Court maintain a professional and cordial working relationship despite their frequent ideological clashes. Speaking from the court’s chambers in Washington, D.C., Jackson addressed public concerns regarding the court's internal cohesion following a series of high-stakes, polarizing rulings. She emphasized that the nine justices have developed a specialized skill for adapting to a unique professional environment where they must collaborate daily with colleagues who hold deeply entrenched, yet fundamentally different, legal and social philosophies. During the detailed discussion, Jackson elaborated on the internal culture of the nation’s highest court, describing a level of civility that often goes unseen by the public. She noted that while the justices may engage in rigorous and sometimes heated intellectual debates over constitutional interpretation, they do not allow these disagreements to devolve into personal animosity. This commitment to professional decorum is seen as essential for the functionality of the judicial branch, which has faced increased scrutiny over its 6-3 conservative majority and the resulting shifts in American law. The Justice's comments come at a critical juncture for the Supreme Court, as it grapples with historically low public approval ratings and intense political polarization. By highlighting the "getting along well" aspect of their tenure, Jackson suggested that the institution's strength lies in its ability to facilitate dialogue among people with disparate viewpoints. She characterized the court not just as a legal body, but as a microcosm of how individuals can manage profound disagreements through mutual respect and a shared commitment to the institutional mission of the judiciary.