Ketanji Brown Jackson on Monday publicly criticized the Supreme Court’s handling of a recent Louisiana voting rights dispute, warning that the court risks appearing politically motivated when dealing with election-related cases.

Speaking at an event hosted by the American Law Institute in Washington, Jackson said the court must be especially cautious when addressing politically sensitive issues during an election year.

“It can so easily be perceived that the court is doing something political,” Jackson said during a conversation with Richard Gergel.

“In my view, we have to be really, really careful in this environment when we’re dealing with issues that have a political overlay,” she added. “We have to be scrupulous about sticking to the principles and the rules that we apply in every case and not look as though we’re doing something different in this kind of context.”

Jackson’s remarks marked her first public comments on the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which narrowed protections for minority voters under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

While Jackson did not directly address the substance of the ruling, she expressed concern over the court’s unusual decision to immediately certify the ruling despite objections from a group of Black Louisiana voters who were considering seeking a rehearing.

Jackson suggested the expedited move — issued without explanation and over a dissent she joined written by Elena Kagan — could create the appearance that the court was taking sides in a politically charged dispute.

The ruling’s immediate effect allowed Louisiana Republicans to move forward more quickly with plans for a new congressional map, including the removal of at least one majority-Black district previously represented by Democrats.