Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Cover Over $250,000 Legal Fees for Jazz Drummer

A D.C. judge ruled that the Kennedy Center must pay more than $250,000 in attorney fees to jazz drummer Charles “Chuck” Redd after the center’s lawsuit over his cancellation of a Christmas concert was dismissed.

Jazz drummer Charles “Chuck” Redd, who had led the Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve jazz concert for years, cancelled his performance after Trump-appointed trustees voted to add the president’s name to the building. The center responded with a breach-of-contract lawsuit, which a D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed in June, concluding the action was likely retaliatory for Redd’s public advocacy. On Monday, Judge Tanya Jones Bosier ruled that Redd was the prevailing party and ordered the Kennedy Center to pay more than $250,000 in legal fees, deeming the amount reasonable.

The decision also underscores the earlier court order that barred the center from renaming itself after Trump, reaffirming that only Congress can change the Kennedy Center’s name. The case reflects the broader pattern of Trump’s extensive involvement in the institution during his second term, including board replacements and programming interference. Recent judicial rulings have similarly imposed sizable fee awards in disputes linked to Trump-era policies. The fee award adds to the financial and reputational fallout for the Kennedy Center following the failed renaming effort.