Justices clash over shadow docket used in Trump-era emergency rulings

At a rare public appearance, Justice Jackson criticized the court's growing use of the shadow docket to fast-track Trump-era emergency rulings, calling the uptick a problem that warps how lower courts approach cases. Justice Kavanaugh defended the practice as sometimes necessary and noted the trend isn’t unique to Trump. The exchange highlighted internal court tensions and concerns about threats to judges, while both stressed the importance of judicial independence.