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Court Orders Kennedy Center to Pay $250,000 in Legal Fees to Musician
Just the facts
District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Anita Josey-Herring ordered the Kennedy Center to reimburse $250,000 in legal expenses to jazz musician Chuck Redd. Redd had previously canceled his scheduled annual Christmas Eve performance at the complex to protest the addition of Donald Trump's name to the venue. The Kennedy Center filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Redd following the cancellation, which the court dismissed in June 2026. The judge determined that the venue's lawsuit violated local anti-SLAPP legislation designed to protect free speech.
Why this is news
A District of Columbia Superior Court judge ordered the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to pay $250,000 in legal fees to jazz musician Chuck Redd. The court order followed the dismissal of a breach of contract lawsuit brought against Redd by the institution.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.