Jackson: Supreme Court ‘has to be prepared to respond’ to election

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in a new interview said she is “prepared as anyone can be” for the possibility that this year’s presidential election could end up before the high court.

“I think there are legal issues that arise out of the political process,” Jackson said during an interview with CBS’s Norah O’Donnell.

“And so, the Supreme Court has to be prepared to respond — if — if that should be necessary,” she added.

Jackson’s rare interview comes as she prepares to release her memoir, “Lovely One,” next week. An interview excerpt will air on Tuesday’s “CBS Evening News” before the full sit-down is broadcast this weekend on “CBS News Sunday Morning,” according to the network.

“Are you prepared that this election could end up before the Supreme Court?” O’Donnell asked the justice.

“As prepared as anyone can be,” Jackson responded, before laughing. “Let me ask you, are you prepared for all of the news cycles that you’re getting as a result of this election?”

O’Donnell replied, “Um, no.”

The interview comes as Vice President Harris is currently leading former President Trump by 4 percentage points — 49.5 percent support to 45.5 percent — according to aggregated polling data from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Jackson, nominated to the high court by President Biden in 2022, was also asked about her fiery dissent from the Supreme Court’s decision carving out broad criminal immunity for former presidents, which handed former President Trump a major legal victory in fighting his indictments.

“I was concerned about a system that appeared to provide immunity for one individual under one set of circumstances, when we have a criminal justice system that had ordinarily treated everyone the same,” Jackson told CBS.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.