Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Expresses Concern Over Transgender Care Issues

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson after her formal investiture ceremony at the Supreme Court, in Washington, Sept. 30, 2022. In Quotes of the Year, a Yale Law School librarian's list of the most notable q

During a recent Supreme Court hearing, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson expressed concern over some conservative justices appearing hesitant to engage with complex issues related to transgender care due to a lack of medical expertise. Justice Jackson highlighted the court's historical involvement in such matters and referenced a significant 1967 decision that struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage as a constitutional issue.

She referenced a 1967 decision on interracial marriage to underscore the court's historical involvement.

Justice Jackson highlighted conservative justices' hesitancy in addressing transgender care complexities.

Justice Jackson warned against avoiding critical constitutional discussions on transgender issues.

Emphasizing that these issues are fundamentally constitutional questions, Justice Jackson cautioned against shying away from addressing them, as it could weaken the foundation of key equal protection cases. She voiced her apprehension about the potential implications of avoiding these critical discussions, stating, 'I'm worried that we're undermining the foundation of some of our bedrock equal protection cases.' At one point, Justice Jackson admitted feeling nervous about the direction of the conversation within the court.