Well, it seems the justice system in New Jersey has gone full Hollywood, and not in a good way. Governor Phil Murphy, a man supposedly entrusted with upholding the rule of law, has been influenced—of all people—by Kim Kardashian. Yes, the same Kim Kardashian who rose to fame on the back of a sex tape and now moonlights as a justice reform advocate between selling shapewear and posting selfies. If this doesn’t scream “priorities out of whack,” I don’t know what does.
The case in question involves Dawn Jackson, a woman convicted of murdering her step-grandfather in 1999. She claimed years of sexual abuse drove her to kill him, but those allegations were never aired in court. Instead, she took a plea deal for first-degree murder, reportedly under the advice of her public defender. Whether or not her case was mishandled is worth examining, but here’s the kicker: instead of following formal legal channels, Jackson apparently thought her best bet was to write to Kardashian. And it worked.
Kim Kardashian was a central force in getting New Jersey woman Dawn Jackson released from prison after serving 25 years for fatally stabbing a man she claims was sexually abusing her. pic.twitter.com/Wwz5P7TuhW
— Kevin Randy (@rowanisright) December 16, 2024
Let’s be clear: the idea that our judicial system can now be swayed by reality stars with massive social media followings is deeply unsettling. Kim Kardashian has zero legal qualifications, but somehow her endorsement is enough to get Governor Murphy to commute Jackson’s sentence five years early. Not a judge. Not a lawyer. Not an investigator. Nope—it’s Kim K’s stamp of approval that tipped the scales. How comforting.
This isn’t Kardashian’s first foray into justice reform. She’s successfully advocated for the release of others, like Alice Marie Johnson, and has used her platform to shine a light on criminal justice issues. Admirable? Sure, but let’s not pretend she’s some modern-day Clarence Darrow. This is the same woman whose Instagram is mostly a running ad for her billion-dollar brand. The fact that Jackson saw Kardashian as her best chance at freedom says more about the state of our legal system than it does about Kardashian’s activism.
And what about Governor Murphy? If he genuinely believed Dawn Jackson’s case deserved reconsideration, why didn’t he rely on legal professionals to review it? There’s a process for this—reopening cases, presenting new evidence, and ensuring fairness under the law. Instead, Murphy essentially turned to the court of public opinion, letting a social media influencer set the tone for a life-altering decision. It’s not just bad optics; it’s an abdication of responsibility.
Grateful to @KimKardashian for highlighting the case of Dawn Jackson, who has been imprisoned for more than 25 years.
Dawn has lived a hard life — enduring unimaginable trauma and sexual abuse dating back to her childhood. Those harrowing circumstances factored into my… https://t.co/z50zd3c1At
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 16, 2024
The whole situation underscores how dangerously intertwined celebrity culture and governance have become. We’ve gone from “government of the people, by the people, for the people” to “government of the influencers, by the influencers, for the influencers.” Are we really supposed to feel good about a system where a reality star with zero legal expertise wields more influence than actual attorneys?
This isn’t a swipe at Kardashian personally—she’s free to use her platform as she sees fit. But when governors start acting as though celebrity endorsements are a substitute for due process, it’s a problem. Justice reform is a serious issue. It requires thoughtful, nuanced solutions, not Instagram campaigns. If lives are truly at stake, as they are in cases like this, then the last thing we need is for decisions to be driven by social media clout.
Governor Murphy’s decision reflects poorly on the integrity of the justice system. Instead of reinforcing trust in the rule of law, he’s given the public another reason to roll their eyes at political leadership. And as for those in need of legal help? Here’s some advice: don’t count on a Kardashian. Get a lawyer. A real one.
