Ketanji Brown Jackson: Difference between revisions

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| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| occupation = Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
| occupation = {{flatlist|
| known_for = First Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court
* Jurist
* lawyer
}}
| known_for = First Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States
| education = Harvard University (BA, JD)
| education = Harvard University (BA, JD)
| title = Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
| children = 2
| children = 2
| awards =  
| awards = {{flatlist|
* First Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court
* First former federal public defender on the U.S. Supreme Court
}}
| website =  
}}
}}


'''Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson''' (née '''Brown'''; born September 14, 1970) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Joe Biden on February 25, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate later that year, Jackson made history as the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman to serve on the nation's highest court.<ref name="ballotpedia">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, where she served as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review''. She clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she later assumed on the Supreme Court. Before her elevation to the high court, Jackson served as vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission from 2010 to 2014, as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia from 2013 to 2021, and as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2021 to 2022.<ref name="fjc">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394151 |publisher=Federal Judicial Center |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Alongside justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, Jackson is considered part of the Court's liberal wing.
'''Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson''' (née '''Brown'''; born September 14, 1970) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Joe Biden on February 25, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate later that year, Jackson made history as the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman to serve on the nation's highest court.<ref name="ballotpedia">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson |publisher=Ballotpedia |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, where she served as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review''. She clerked for three federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she would ultimately assume. Her career before the bench included stints in private practice, federal public defense, and service as vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission. Appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2013, and elevated by President Biden to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2021, Jackson brought a depth of judicial and legal experience to the Supreme Court that included perspectives from both sides of the courtroom.<ref name="fjc">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394151 |publisher=Federal Judicial Center |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She is considered part of the Court's liberal wing, alongside Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Ketanji Onyika Brown was born on September 14, 1970, in Washington, D.C.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Her parents were both graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. The family relocated to Miami, Florida, where Jackson was raised.<ref name="fjc" /> Her father attended law school at the University of Miami while she was growing up, and Jackson has recalled watching him study his law books at the family's dining room table, an experience that helped spark her own interest in the law.<ref name="questionnaire">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Senate Questionnaire |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Jackson%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20Public%20Final.pdf |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Ketanji Onyika Brown was born on September 14, 1970, in Washington, D.C.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Her parents, Johnny and Ellery Brown, were both graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. Her father attended law school and became an attorney for the Miami-Dade County School Board, while her mother served as a school principal.<ref name="questionnaire">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Senate Questionnaire |url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Jackson%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20Public%20Final.pdf |publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The family relocated to Miami, Florida, when Jackson was young, and she was raised there.


Jackson attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School in the suburb of Pinecrest, where she was active in debate and speech competitions. Her achievements in high school forensics and oratory laid the foundation for a career that would center on legal argumentation and judicial reasoning. She was also elected as student body president of her high school class.<ref name="questionnaire" />
Jackson's name, "Ketanji Onyika," reflects her family's interest in African heritage; the name means "lovely one" in a West African language, according to accounts from her family.<ref name="questionnaire" /> Her uncle, Calvin Ross, served as a law enforcement officer, and another uncle had a different trajectory through the criminal justice system — an experience that Jackson has cited as influential in shaping her interest in criminal defense and the justice system more broadly.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


Her uncle Calvin Ross served as a law enforcement officer, and another relative had a career in public service, giving Jackson early exposure to multiple facets of the American legal and justice system.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Jackson's name, Ketanji Onyika, has West African roots, reflecting her family's connection to their heritage. Her parents chose the name from a list provided by an aunt who was serving in the Peace Corps in Africa at the time of Jackson's birth.<ref name="uva_reflects">{{cite web |title=Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on challenges, kindness at UVA |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/supreme-court-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-challenges-kindness-uva |publisher=UVA Today |date=September 19, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Growing up in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s, Jackson attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School, where she was active in debate and oratory competitions. She was a standout member of the school's speech and debate team, competing at the national level and earning recognition for her skills in public speaking. During her high school years, Jackson expressed an early interest in law, reportedly telling her guidance counselor of her ambition to attend Harvard University and pursue a legal career.<ref name="questionnaire" />


Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s in Miami, Jackson was part of a generation of Black Americans who benefited from the legal and social changes wrought by the civil rights movement but who still encountered systemic challenges. Her journey from a Miami public school to the highest court in the land has been cited in numerous accounts as emblematic of both the progress and the ongoing struggles related to race and opportunity in the United States.<ref name="law_virginia">{{cite web |title=Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Reflects on Her Historic Journey |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202509/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-her-historic-journey |publisher=University of Virginia School of Law |date=September 18, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Jackson's formative years in Miami exposed her to a diverse, multicultural environment. Her parents, who had themselves lived through the era of segregation and the civil rights movement, instilled in her a strong sense of the importance of education and public service. These values would shape her trajectory through some of the most prominent legal institutions in the United States.<ref name="questionnaire" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Jackson enrolled at Harvard University for her undergraduate studies, graduating magna cum laude in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.<ref name="questionnaire" /> During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in various campus activities and developed a strong interest in public policy and constitutional law.
Jackson enrolled at Harvard University for her undergraduate education, graduating magna cum laude in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.<ref name="questionnaire" /> While at Harvard, she was active in a number of campus organizations and developed an interest in public policy and law.


After completing her undergraduate degree, Jackson attended Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor cum laude in 1996.<ref name="fjc" /> While at Harvard Law, she served as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review'', one of the most prestigious law journals in the United States. Her time at Harvard Law School provided her with a rigorous foundation in constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and legal theory that would inform her later career on the bench.<ref name="questionnaire" />
After completing her undergraduate degree, Jackson returned to Harvard for law school, enrolling at Harvard Law School. During her time there, she served as an editor of the ''Harvard Law Review'', one of the most prestigious law journals in the United States. She also served as a supervising editor of the ''Harvard Law Review'', gaining experience in legal scholarship and editing. Jackson earned her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1996.<ref name="questionnaire" /><ref name="fjc" />


Jackson's educational background at Harvard connected her to a network of legal scholars and practitioners, including several who would later serve in prominent government positions. Her dual degrees from Harvard placed her among a small group of Supreme Court justices who attended the same institution for both their undergraduate and legal education.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Jackson's dual Harvard education — undergraduate and law — placed her among a select group of legal professionals trained entirely at one of the nation's leading academic institutions. Her time at Harvard also introduced her to networks and mentors who would prove important throughout her legal and judicial career.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Clerkships and Early Legal Career ===
=== Clerkships ===
 
Following her graduation from Harvard Law School, Jackson embarked on a series of prestigious federal clerkships that exposed her to multiple levels of the federal judiciary. She first clerked for Judge Patti B. Saris of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1996 to 1997. She then clerked for Judge Bruce M. Selya of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1997 to 1998.<ref name="questionnaire" /><ref name="fjc" />


Following her graduation from Harvard Law School, Jackson embarked on a series of prestigious clerkships that are a hallmark of an elite legal career. She clerked for Judge Patti B. Saris of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, followed by a clerkship with Judge Bruce M. Selya of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.<ref name="questionnaire" /> She then clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States during the 1999–2000 term, an experience that gave her firsthand insight into the workings of the Court on which she would one day sit.<ref name="fjc" />
Jackson's most consequential clerkship came during the 1999–2000 Supreme Court term, when she served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States. This clerkship provided Jackson with firsthand experience in the workings of the nation's highest court and a close working relationship with Justice Breyer — the justice whose seat she would ultimately fill more than two decades later.<ref name="fjc" /><ref name="ballotpedia" />


After her clerkships, Jackson entered private practice. She worked at several law firms, including Morrison & Foerster, where she practiced in the appellate and Supreme Court litigation group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Attorney Profile |url=http://www.mofo.com/attorneys/13412/summary.html |publisher=Morrison & Foerster |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Attorney Profile (Archived) |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906150725/http://www.mofo.com/attorneys/13412/summary.html |publisher=Morrison & Foerster (via Internet Archive) |date= |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her work in private practice spanned complex litigation and appellate advocacy, providing her with extensive experience in federal court proceedings.
=== Private Practice and Public Service ===


Jackson also served as an assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia, representing defendants who could not afford legal counsel in federal criminal cases.<ref name="questionnaire" /> This experience was particularly significant in shaping her judicial philosophy and her understanding of the criminal justice system from the perspective of the accused. Her service as a public defender later became a notable point of distinction during her Supreme Court confirmation, as no previous justice had served in that role.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Between and after her clerkships, Jackson worked in private legal practice. She was an associate at the law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she practiced in the firm's appellate and Supreme Court litigation practice.<ref name="mofo">{{cite web |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Attorney Profile |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906150725/http://www.mofo.com/attorneys/13412/summary.html |publisher=Morrison & Foerster LLP (archived) |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Her work at the firm included appellate litigation and matters involving regulatory and constitutional law.
 
Jackson also served as an assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia, where she represented defendants who could not afford legal counsel in federal criminal cases. This experience was notable because it was relatively uncommon among nominees to the federal bench, particularly to the Supreme Court. Jackson's tenure as a public defender gave her direct courtroom experience representing indigent defendants and provided her with a perspective on the criminal justice system that differed from that of most judges and justices, the majority of whom had backgrounds as prosecutors or in corporate law practice.<ref name="questionnaire" /><ref name="ballotpedia" />
 
In addition to her work in private practice and public defense, Jackson served as an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission from 2003 to 2005, where she worked on federal sentencing guidelines and policy.<ref name="questionnaire" />


=== United States Sentencing Commission ===
=== United States Sentencing Commission ===


In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Jackson to serve as the vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission, a position she held until December 2014.<ref name="fjc" /> The Sentencing Commission is an independent agency within the judicial branch of the federal government, responsible for establishing sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts. As vice chairwoman, Jackson played a key role in reviewing and promulgating federal sentencing guidelines, including efforts to address sentencing disparities.<ref name="questionnaire" />
In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Jackson to serve as vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency within the judicial branch that establishes sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts.<ref name="fjc" /><ref name="ballotpedia" /> She succeeded Rubén Castillo in the role and served from February 12, 2010, through December 2014.<ref name="questionnaire" />


Her tenure on the Sentencing Commission coincided with a period of significant national debate over criminal justice reform, mandatory minimum sentences, and the disproportionate impact of certain sentencing policies on minority communities. Jackson's work on the Commission gave her deep expertise in the mechanics and implications of federal sentencing, a subject that would continue to figure prominently in her judicial career.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> She succeeded Rubén Castillo as vice chair and was succeeded by L. Felipe Restrepo.<ref name="fjc" />
During her tenure as vice chairwoman, Jackson played a key role in the commission's efforts to address disparities in federal sentencing, including issues related to the sentencing guidelines for drug offenses. The commission during this period undertook significant retroactive amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, affecting the sentences of thousands of federal inmates. Jackson's work on the commission deepened her expertise in sentencing policy, an area that would feature prominently in discussions during her subsequent judicial confirmation hearings.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


=== United States District Court ===
=== United States District Court ===


On September 20, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, one of the most prominent trial courts in the federal system.<ref name="fjc" /> She was confirmed by the United States Senate and received her judicial commission on March 26, 2013, succeeding Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr.<ref name="fjc" />
On September 20, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, to the seat vacated by Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr.<ref name="fjc" /> She was confirmed by the United States Senate and received her judicial commission on March 26, 2013.<ref name="fjc" />
 
During her eight years on the district court, Jackson presided over a wide range of civil and criminal cases, including several high-profile matters involving government transparency, executive power, and federal employment law. Her decisions were noted for their thorough legal analysis and meticulous attention to factual detail.<ref name="questionnaire" />
 
One of her most prominent rulings came in ''Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn'' (2019), in which she held that former White House Counsel Don McGahn was required to comply with a congressional subpoena to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. In a lengthy opinion, Jackson rejected the Trump administration's claim of absolute immunity for senior White House advisers, writing that "Presidents are not combatants in a political arena"—a ruling that was later partially upheld and partially reversed by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.<ref name="wapo_dc_circuit">{{cite news |title=Biden to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to D.C. Circuit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-dc-circuit/2021/04/29/c0bd2f0c-a761-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html |work=The Washington Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Jackson also handled cases involving federal labor relations, environmental regulation, and challenges to executive branch actions. Her tenure on the district court established her reputation as a careful and methodical jurist who approached each case based on the facts and the applicable law.<ref name="questionnaire" />
As a district court judge, Jackson presided over a wide range of civil and criminal cases in one of the most prominent federal trial courts in the country. The District of Columbia district court frequently handles cases involving the federal government, executive agencies, and matters of national significance. Jackson served on this court for more than eight years, building a substantial record of judicial decisions.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


=== United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ===
Among her notable rulings during her time on the district court were cases involving executive power, congressional oversight, and administrative law. Jackson's district court decisions demonstrated a willingness to rule against the government in cases where she found legal merit in the opposing party's arguments, a pattern that drew attention from legal commentators and analysts.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Jackson to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often considered the second most powerful court in the country due to its role in reviewing federal agency actions and executive branch decisions.<ref name="fjc" /> She succeeded Judge Merrick Garland, who had been confirmed as the United States Attorney General. Jackson was confirmed by the Senate and received her commission on June 17, 2021.<ref name="fjc" />
Jackson also maintained an active presence in the legal community during her years on the district bench. She participated in Shakespeare Theatre Company mock trial events in Washington, D.C., serving as a judge in theatrical re-imaginings of legal disputes drawn from literary and historical works.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shakespeare Theatre Company Mock Trial |url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2019/06/28/shakespeare-theatre-company-mock-trial/ |publisher=DC Metro Theater Arts |date=2019-06-28 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Twelfth Night Mock Trial: Olivia Versus Sebastian |url=https://dctheatrescene.com/2017/12/13/twelfth-night-mock-olivia-versus-sebastian/ |publisher=DC Theatre Scene |date=2017-12-13 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> These events, which featured prominent judges and attorneys in staged legal proceedings based on Shakespeare plays and other works, reflected Jackson's engagement with the intersection of law and public education.<ref>{{cite web |title=Friar Laurence Free to Go in Case of Juliet and Her Romeo |url=https://www.scotusblog.com/2016/12/friar-laurence-free-to-go-in-case-of-juliet-and-her-romeo/ |publisher=SCOTUSblog |date=2016-12 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Jackson's time on the D.C. Circuit was relatively brief, lasting just over one year before her elevation to the Supreme Court. During this period, she participated in oral arguments and authored opinions on matters relating to administrative law, civil liberties, and government regulation. Her successor on the D.C. Circuit was Florence Y. Pan.<ref name="fjc" />
In 2016, Jackson's name surfaced in media reports as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, though President Obama ultimately nominated Merrick Garland for the vacancy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Goldstein Says Obama May Nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-goldstein-says-obama-may-nominate-ketanji-brown-jackson-2016-2 |work=Business Insider |date=2016-02 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Nomination and Confirmation to the Supreme Court ===
=== United States Court of Appeals ===


On January 27, 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the Court's term. During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden had pledged to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court should a vacancy arise. On February 25, 2022, Biden formally nominated Jackson to succeed Breyer.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Jackson to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often regarded as the second most powerful court in the federal system. She was nominated to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Merrick Garland to the position of United States Attorney General.<ref name="wapo_dccirc">{{cite news |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson nominated to D.C. Circuit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-dc-circuit/2021/04/29/c0bd2f0c-a761-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html |work=The Washington Post |date=2021-04-29 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Jackson was confirmed by the Senate and received her commission on June 17, 2021. She succeeded Garland on the court and served until June 29, 2022, when she departed to join the Supreme Court. Her successor on the D.C. Circuit was Florence Y. Pan.<ref name="fjc" />


Jackson's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee took place in March 2022 and attracted extensive national attention. During the hearings, Jackson was questioned on a wide range of topics, including her judicial philosophy, her record on the district and appellate courts, her experience as a public defender, and her views on constitutional interpretation. She emphasized her commitment to judicial independence and described her approach as one focused on careful evaluation of the facts, the law, and the arguments presented by both sides in each case.<ref name="questionnaire" />
Jackson's tenure on the appellate court was brief — just over one year — but it provided her with experience in appellate decision-making that complemented her extensive trial court experience.


The hearings were at times contentious, with some Republican senators questioning her sentencing record in certain criminal cases. Jackson responded by explaining the framework of federal sentencing guidelines and the factors judges are required to consider when imposing sentences.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
=== Supreme Court of the United States ===


On April 7, 2022, the United States Senate confirmed Jackson by a vote of 53–47, with three Republican senators—Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah—joining all 50 Democratic senators in voting for her confirmation.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Jackson was sworn into office on June 30, 2022, the day Justice Breyer's retirement became effective, becoming the 116th justice of the Supreme Court.<ref name="fjc" />
On January 27, 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the 2021–2022 term. President Biden, who had pledged during his presidential campaign to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, nominated Jackson on February 25, 2022.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


=== Supreme Court Tenure ===
Jackson's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee took place in March 2022 and were closely watched. The hearings featured extensive questioning on her judicial philosophy, her record as a district and appellate court judge, her sentencing decisions in criminal cases, and her work on the Sentencing Commission. The proceedings were at times contentious, with members of the committee divided along partisan lines on several issues raised during questioning.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


Since joining the Supreme Court, Jackson has served as part of the Court's liberal wing alongside justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. She has authored opinions and dissents in a variety of areas, including constitutional law, criminal procedure, and statutory interpretation.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
The Senate confirmed Jackson on April 7, 2022, by a vote of 53–47, with three Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah — joining all fifty Democratic caucus members in voting for confirmation.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Jackson was sworn into office on June 30, 2022, immediately following the official retirement of Justice Breyer, making her the 116th justice of the Supreme Court and the first Black woman to serve in that capacity.<ref name="fjc" />


Jackson has been noted for her willingness to write separately in cases involving issues of access to justice. In particular, she has repeatedly broken with the Court's majority on matters involving ''in forma pauperis'' petitions—filings by individuals who cannot afford court fees—advocating for broader access to the federal courts for indigent litigants.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Keeps Breaking With Supreme Court Over One Subject |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-keeps-breaking-with-supreme-court-11569794 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On the Supreme Court, Jackson has been identified as part of the Court's liberal wing, alongside Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. In her early terms, she has authored opinions and dissents across a range of legal issues, including administrative law, criminal justice, and constitutional interpretation. Jackson has been noted for her active questioning during oral arguments, a style consistent with her reputation as a thorough and engaged jurist.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


In a significant ruling in 2025 concerning the constitutionality of tariffs imposed by the executive branch, Jackson was part of the Court's liberal minority that voted to strike down certain global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, invoking historical documentation in her legal reasoning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Uses 85-Year-Old Document in Tariff Ruling |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-uses-85-year-old-document-in-tariff-ruling-11556746 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In recent terms, Jackson has drawn attention for her approach to in forma pauperis petitions — requests by individuals who cannot afford court fees to proceed without payment. Reporting in 2026 noted that Jackson has repeatedly broken with the Court's majority on such matters, often writing or joining dissents when the majority denies these petitions.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-23 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Keeps Breaking With Supreme Court Over One Subject |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-keeps-breaking-with-supreme-court-11569794 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This pattern reflects her background as a former public defender and her attention to issues of access to justice for indigent litigants.


Her opinions have been characterized by detailed textual analysis and a focus on the practical implications of legal rules. Jackson has engaged in oral arguments with pointed questioning that reflects her background in both criminal defense and judicial administration.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Jackson has also been a participant in significant constitutional rulings during her tenure. In 2026, she was part of the liberal minority that voted to strike down certain global tariffs imposed by the executive branch, with reporting noting that Jackson referenced an 85-year-old legal document in her analysis of the case.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Ketanji Brown Jackson Uses 85-Year-Old Document in Tariff Ruling |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-uses-85-year-old-document-in-tariff-ruling-11556746 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Ketanji Brown Jackson is married to Patrick G. Jackson, a surgeon. The couple has two daughters.<ref name="questionnaire" /> Her husband is a graduate of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. The family resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Ketanji Brown Jackson is married to Patrick G. Jackson, a surgeon. The couple has two daughters.<ref name="questionnaire" /><ref name="ballotpedia" /> Patrick Jackson is a graduate of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and practices medicine in the Washington, D.C., area.
 
Jackson's uncle, Calvin Ross, served in law enforcement, and the broader family has had a long connection to public service.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> Jackson has spoken publicly about the influence of her parents, both educators, on her values and career trajectory.<ref name="uva_reflects" />


Outside of her judicial responsibilities, Jackson has been involved in community activities. She served on the board of trustees of Georgetown Day School, a private school in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.gds.org/about/leadership-and-faculty/board-of-trustees |publisher=Georgetown Day School |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She also served as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers from 2016 to 2022, the university's second governing body.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Jackson has been involved in community and educational activities outside her judicial duties. She served as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers from 2016 to 2022, contributing to governance of her alma mater during a period that included her nomination to the Supreme Court.<ref name="ballotpedia" /> She has also served on the board of trustees of Georgetown Day School, a private school in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgetown Day School Board of Trustees |url=https://www.gds.org/about/leadership-and-faculty/board-of-trustees |publisher=Georgetown Day School |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Jackson has participated in a number of Shakespeare-themed mock trials organized by the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., presiding as a judge in fictional legal proceedings based on the plots of Shakespearean plays. These events, which are open to the public and often feature prominent members of the legal community, have included mock trials based on ''Twelfth Night'' and ''Romeo and Juliet''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shakespeare Theatre Company Mock Trial |url=https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2019/06/28/shakespeare-theatre-company-mock-trial/ |publisher=DC Metro Theater Arts |date=June 28, 2019 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Twelfth Night Mock: Olivia Versus Sebastian |url=https://dctheatrescene.com/2017/12/13/twelfth-night-mock-olivia-versus-sebastian/ |publisher=DC Theatre Scene |date=December 13, 2017 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Friar Laurence Free to Go in Case of Juliet and Her Romeo |url=https://www.scotusblog.com/2016/12/friar-laurence-free-to-go-in-case-of-juliet-and-her-romeo/ |publisher=SCOTUSblog |date=December 2016 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Jackson has spoken publicly about the significance of her appointment and the role of representation in the judiciary. In appearances at universities and public events, she has reflected on her personal journey and the challenges she has faced throughout her career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Reflects on Her Historic Journey |url=https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202509/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-her-historic-journey |publisher=University of Virginia School of Law |date=2025-09-18 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In February 2025, Jackson's attendance at the Grammy Awards attracted public attention and prompted a call for an investigation from Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who raised questions about the propriety of a Supreme Court justice attending the entertainment industry event.<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP senator calls for probe into Ketanji Brown Jackson attending Grammys |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5726897-justice-jackson-grammy-controversy/ |work=The Hill |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In February 2026, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee called for an investigation into Jackson's attendance at the Grammy Awards, raising questions about judicial ethics and the propriety of justices attending high-profile entertainment events.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02 |title=GOP senator calls for probe into Ketanji Brown Jackson attending Grammys |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5726897-justice-jackson-grammy-controversy/ |work=The Hill |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Jackson's confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court was recognized as a historic milestone. Her appointment was covered extensively in national and international media, and her swearing-in ceremony on June 30, 2022, was attended by a wide range of dignitaries and public figures.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court was recognized as a historic milestone. She is the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman overall to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.<ref name="ballotpedia" /><ref name="fjc" /> Her confirmation was covered extensively in national and international media, and her swearing-in ceremony on June 30, 2022, was watched by millions.
 
In 2016, during the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, legal commentator Tom Goldstein of SCOTUSblog identified Jackson as a potential Supreme Court nominee by President Obama, raising her national profile in legal circles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Goldstein says Obama may nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-goldstein-says-obama-may-nominate-ketanji-brown-jackson-2016-2 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Since joining the Court, Jackson has been invited to speak at numerous prominent institutions. In September 2025, she reflected on her journey to the Supreme Court during an appearance at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she received a standing ovation and discussed the challenges and influences that shaped her career.<ref name="law_virginia" /><ref name="uva_reflects" /> She also spoke at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, an HBCU, in September 2025, where she was described as "the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson Speaks at N.C. A&T |url=https://www.ncat.edu/calendar/2025/09/ketanji-brown-jackson.php |publisher=North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University |date=September 3, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In November 2025, Jackson visited the University of Mississippi, where she shared her personal journey and discussed her memoir with students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Inspires Ole Miss Students During Stop |url=https://olemiss.edu/news/2025/11/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-inspires-ole-miss-students-during-stop/index.html |publisher=University of Mississippi |date=November 25, 2025 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Since joining the Court, Jackson has been invited to speak at numerous academic and public institutions. In September 2025, she appeared at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she reflected on her historic journey to the Supreme Court and discussed her career in a conversation that received a standing ovation from attendees.<ref>{{cite news |date=2025-09-19 |title=Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on challenges, kindness at UVA |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/supreme-court-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-challenges-kindness-uva |work=UVA Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> She also spoke at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a historically Black university, in September 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson Speaks at N.C. A&T |url=https://www.ncat.edu/calendar/2025/09/ketanji-brown-jackson.php |publisher=North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University |date=2025-09-03 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In November 2025, Jackson visited the University of Mississippi, where she shared her personal journey and discussed her memoir with students.<ref>{{cite web |title=Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Inspires Ole Miss Students During Stop |url=https://olemiss.edu/news/2025/11/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-inspires-ole-miss-students-during-stop/index.html |publisher=University of Mississippi |date=2025-11-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Jackson has also participated in events at the National Constitution Center and the University of Chicago Law School, further establishing her presence as a public intellectual and legal commentator beyond the courtroom.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hamilton: The Man, the Musical, and the Law |url=https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/town-hall-video/hamilton-the-man-the-musical-and-the-law |publisher=National Constitution Center |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Community Celebrates at Third Annual Parsons Dinner |url=https://www.law.uchicago.edu/slideshows/community-celebrates-xxx-third-annual-parsons-dinner |publisher=University of Chicago Law School |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Jackson's participation in Shakespeare Theatre Company mock trials and other public legal education events prior to her Supreme Court appointment also brought her recognition within the Washington, D.C., legal and arts communities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hamilton/Burr Mock Trial |url=https://drexel.edu/law/about/news/articles/overview/2018/November/hamilton-burr-trial/ |publisher=Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law |date=2018-11 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Ketanji Brown Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court represents a significant milestone in American legal and social history. As the first Black woman and the first former federal public defender to serve on the Court, her presence on the bench has expanded the range of professional and life experiences represented among the justices.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
Ketanji Brown Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court marked a significant moment in the history of the American judiciary. As the first Black woman to serve on the Court, her elevation addressed a representation gap that had persisted for the entirety of the institution's existence since its founding in 1789. Her appointment was the culmination of a career that spanned public defense, private practice, federal sentencing policy, and service on two federal courts prior to the Supreme Court.<ref name="ballotpedia" /><ref name="fjc" />
 
Her background as a public defender has brought a perspective to the Court that had previously been absent. While many justices have come to the bench from backgrounds in private practice, government legal positions, or academia, Jackson's experience representing indigent criminal defendants gave her direct experience with the impact of federal sentencing policies and criminal procedure on individuals facing the power of the state. This perspective has been reflected in her opinions and dissents, particularly in cases involving access to justice and the rights of criminal defendants.<ref name="questionnaire" />


Jackson's career trajectory—from a public high school in Miami to Harvard, from the Federal Public Defender's Office to the federal bench, and ultimately to the Supreme Court—has been cited as an example of achievement in the face of structural and personal challenges. In her public appearances at universities across the country, including at the University of Virginia, North Carolina A&T, and the University of Mississippi, Jackson has spoken about the importance of perseverance, mentorship, and the role of the judiciary in American life.<ref name="law_virginia" /><ref name="uva_reflects" />
Jackson's background as a former federal public defender distinguished her from virtually all prior Supreme Court justices, the vast majority of whom had come from backgrounds in prosecution, corporate law, or government legal positions. Her experience representing indigent defendants in federal criminal cases brought to the Court a perspective on the criminal justice system that had been largely absent from its deliberations. This background has been evident in her approach to cases involving criminal procedure, sentencing, and access to the courts.<ref name="questionnaire" />


Her service on the United States Sentencing Commission and her subsequent judicial career provided her with a breadth of experience across multiple levels of the federal judicial system. From the administrative work of the Commission to the trial-level proceedings of the district court, the appellate review of the D.C. Circuit, and the final authority of the Supreme Court, Jackson has operated at every major level of federal judicial function.<ref name="fjc" />
Her tenure on the Sentencing Commission, where she worked on federal sentencing guidelines and disparities, added a policy dimension to her judicial experience that complemented her courtroom background. Jackson's career trajectory — from public defender to sentencing commission vice chair to district judge to appellate judge to Supreme Court justice — represented one of the most varied professional paths taken to the highest court.<ref name="fjc" />


As a member of the Court's liberal wing, Jackson's role in shaping the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court is ongoing. Her opinions, concurrences, and dissents will continue to be analyzed by scholars, practitioners, and the public as the Court addresses the legal questions of the coming decades.<ref name="ballotpedia" />
As a member of the Court's liberal wing, Jackson's opinions and dissents in her early terms have contributed to ongoing debates about the scope of executive power, access to justice, administrative law, and constitutional interpretation. Her active engagement during oral arguments and her willingness to write separately in cases where she disagrees with the majority have established her as a distinct voice on the Court.<ref name="ballotpedia" />


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />


[[Category:Judges]]
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:American people]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:People from Miami, Florida]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard University alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Supreme Court justices]]
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[[Category:United States federal judges appointed by Joe Biden]]
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[[Category:United States federal judges appointed by Barack Obama]]
[[Category:United States court of appeals judges]]
[[Category:Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]]
[[Category:United States district court judges]]
[[Category:Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia]]
[[Category:United States Sentencing Commission members]]
[[Category:American women judges]]
[[Category:Federal public defenders]]
[[Category:21st-century American judges]]
[[Category:21st-century American women judges]]
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Latest revision as of 02:09, 24 February 2026

Ketanji Brown Jackson
BornKetanji Onyika Brown
14 9, 1970
BirthplaceWashington, D.C., U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTemplate:Flatlist
TitleAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Known forFirst Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States
EducationHarvard University (BA, JD)
Children2
AwardsTemplate:Flatlist

Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson (née Brown; born September 14, 1970) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Joe Biden on February 25, 2022, and confirmed by the United States Senate later that year, Jackson made history as the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman to serve on the nation's highest court.[1] Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard University, where she served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. She clerked for three federal judges, including Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she would ultimately assume. Her career before the bench included stints in private practice, federal public defense, and service as vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission. Appointed by President Barack Obama to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2013, and elevated by President Biden to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 2021, Jackson brought a depth of judicial and legal experience to the Supreme Court that included perspectives from both sides of the courtroom.[2] She is considered part of the Court's liberal wing, alongside Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.

Early Life

Ketanji Onyika Brown was born on September 14, 1970, in Washington, D.C.[1] Her parents, Johnny and Ellery Brown, were both graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. Her father attended law school and became an attorney for the Miami-Dade County School Board, while her mother served as a school principal.[3] The family relocated to Miami, Florida, when Jackson was young, and she was raised there.

Jackson's name, "Ketanji Onyika," reflects her family's interest in African heritage; the name means "lovely one" in a West African language, according to accounts from her family.[3] Her uncle, Calvin Ross, served as a law enforcement officer, and another uncle had a different trajectory through the criminal justice system — an experience that Jackson has cited as influential in shaping her interest in criminal defense and the justice system more broadly.[1]

Growing up in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s, Jackson attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School, where she was active in debate and oratory competitions. She was a standout member of the school's speech and debate team, competing at the national level and earning recognition for her skills in public speaking. During her high school years, Jackson expressed an early interest in law, reportedly telling her guidance counselor of her ambition to attend Harvard University and pursue a legal career.[3]

Jackson's formative years in Miami exposed her to a diverse, multicultural environment. Her parents, who had themselves lived through the era of segregation and the civil rights movement, instilled in her a strong sense of the importance of education and public service. These values would shape her trajectory through some of the most prominent legal institutions in the United States.[3]

Education

Jackson enrolled at Harvard University for her undergraduate education, graduating magna cum laude in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.[3] While at Harvard, she was active in a number of campus organizations and developed an interest in public policy and law.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Jackson returned to Harvard for law school, enrolling at Harvard Law School. During her time there, she served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review, one of the most prestigious law journals in the United States. She also served as a supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review, gaining experience in legal scholarship and editing. Jackson earned her Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1996.[3][2]

Jackson's dual Harvard education — undergraduate and law — placed her among a select group of legal professionals trained entirely at one of the nation's leading academic institutions. Her time at Harvard also introduced her to networks and mentors who would prove important throughout her legal and judicial career.

Career

Clerkships

Following her graduation from Harvard Law School, Jackson embarked on a series of prestigious federal clerkships that exposed her to multiple levels of the federal judiciary. She first clerked for Judge Patti B. Saris of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1996 to 1997. She then clerked for Judge Bruce M. Selya of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1997 to 1998.[3][2]

Jackson's most consequential clerkship came during the 1999–2000 Supreme Court term, when she served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States. This clerkship provided Jackson with firsthand experience in the workings of the nation's highest court and a close working relationship with Justice Breyer — the justice whose seat she would ultimately fill more than two decades later.[2][1]

Private Practice and Public Service

Between and after her clerkships, Jackson worked in private legal practice. She was an associate at the law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP, where she practiced in the firm's appellate and Supreme Court litigation practice.[4] Her work at the firm included appellate litigation and matters involving regulatory and constitutional law.

Jackson also served as an assistant federal public defender in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Columbia, where she represented defendants who could not afford legal counsel in federal criminal cases. This experience was notable because it was relatively uncommon among nominees to the federal bench, particularly to the Supreme Court. Jackson's tenure as a public defender gave her direct courtroom experience representing indigent defendants and provided her with a perspective on the criminal justice system that differed from that of most judges and justices, the majority of whom had backgrounds as prosecutors or in corporate law practice.[3][1]

In addition to her work in private practice and public defense, Jackson served as an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission from 2003 to 2005, where she worked on federal sentencing guidelines and policy.[3]

United States Sentencing Commission

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Jackson to serve as vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency within the judicial branch that establishes sentencing policies and practices for the federal courts.[2][1] She succeeded Rubén Castillo in the role and served from February 12, 2010, through December 2014.[3]

During her tenure as vice chairwoman, Jackson played a key role in the commission's efforts to address disparities in federal sentencing, including issues related to the sentencing guidelines for drug offenses. The commission during this period undertook significant retroactive amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, affecting the sentences of thousands of federal inmates. Jackson's work on the commission deepened her expertise in sentencing policy, an area that would feature prominently in discussions during her subsequent judicial confirmation hearings.[1]

United States District Court

On September 20, 2012, President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, to the seat vacated by Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr.[2] She was confirmed by the United States Senate and received her judicial commission on March 26, 2013.[2]

As a district court judge, Jackson presided over a wide range of civil and criminal cases in one of the most prominent federal trial courts in the country. The District of Columbia district court frequently handles cases involving the federal government, executive agencies, and matters of national significance. Jackson served on this court for more than eight years, building a substantial record of judicial decisions.[1]

Among her notable rulings during her time on the district court were cases involving executive power, congressional oversight, and administrative law. Jackson's district court decisions demonstrated a willingness to rule against the government in cases where she found legal merit in the opposing party's arguments, a pattern that drew attention from legal commentators and analysts.[1]

Jackson also maintained an active presence in the legal community during her years on the district bench. She participated in Shakespeare Theatre Company mock trial events in Washington, D.C., serving as a judge in theatrical re-imaginings of legal disputes drawn from literary and historical works.[5][6] These events, which featured prominent judges and attorneys in staged legal proceedings based on Shakespeare plays and other works, reflected Jackson's engagement with the intersection of law and public education.[7]

In 2016, Jackson's name surfaced in media reports as a potential nominee for the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, though President Obama ultimately nominated Merrick Garland for the vacancy.[8]

United States Court of Appeals

On March 30, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Jackson to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often regarded as the second most powerful court in the federal system. She was nominated to fill the vacancy created by the elevation of Merrick Garland to the position of United States Attorney General.[9] Jackson was confirmed by the Senate and received her commission on June 17, 2021. She succeeded Garland on the court and served until June 29, 2022, when she departed to join the Supreme Court. Her successor on the D.C. Circuit was Florence Y. Pan.[2]

Jackson's tenure on the appellate court was brief — just over one year — but it provided her with experience in appellate decision-making that complemented her extensive trial court experience.

Supreme Court of the United States

On January 27, 2022, Justice Stephen Breyer announced his intention to retire from the Supreme Court at the end of the 2021–2022 term. President Biden, who had pledged during his presidential campaign to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, nominated Jackson on February 25, 2022.[1]

Jackson's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee took place in March 2022 and were closely watched. The hearings featured extensive questioning on her judicial philosophy, her record as a district and appellate court judge, her sentencing decisions in criminal cases, and her work on the Sentencing Commission. The proceedings were at times contentious, with members of the committee divided along partisan lines on several issues raised during questioning.[1]

The Senate confirmed Jackson on April 7, 2022, by a vote of 53–47, with three Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah — joining all fifty Democratic caucus members in voting for confirmation.[1] Jackson was sworn into office on June 30, 2022, immediately following the official retirement of Justice Breyer, making her the 116th justice of the Supreme Court and the first Black woman to serve in that capacity.[2]

On the Supreme Court, Jackson has been identified as part of the Court's liberal wing, alongside Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. In her early terms, she has authored opinions and dissents across a range of legal issues, including administrative law, criminal justice, and constitutional interpretation. Jackson has been noted for her active questioning during oral arguments, a style consistent with her reputation as a thorough and engaged jurist.[1]

In recent terms, Jackson has drawn attention for her approach to in forma pauperis petitions — requests by individuals who cannot afford court fees to proceed without payment. Reporting in 2026 noted that Jackson has repeatedly broken with the Court's majority on such matters, often writing or joining dissents when the majority denies these petitions.[10] This pattern reflects her background as a former public defender and her attention to issues of access to justice for indigent litigants.

Jackson has also been a participant in significant constitutional rulings during her tenure. In 2026, she was part of the liberal minority that voted to strike down certain global tariffs imposed by the executive branch, with reporting noting that Jackson referenced an 85-year-old legal document in her analysis of the case.[11]

Personal Life

Ketanji Brown Jackson is married to Patrick G. Jackson, a surgeon. The couple has two daughters.[3][1] Patrick Jackson is a graduate of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and practices medicine in the Washington, D.C., area.

Jackson has been involved in community and educational activities outside her judicial duties. She served as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers from 2016 to 2022, contributing to governance of her alma mater during a period that included her nomination to the Supreme Court.[1] She has also served on the board of trustees of Georgetown Day School, a private school in Washington, D.C.[12]

Jackson has spoken publicly about the significance of her appointment and the role of representation in the judiciary. In appearances at universities and public events, she has reflected on her personal journey and the challenges she has faced throughout her career.[13]

In February 2026, Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee called for an investigation into Jackson's attendance at the Grammy Awards, raising questions about judicial ethics and the propriety of justices attending high-profile entertainment events.[14]

Recognition

Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court was recognized as a historic milestone. She is the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman overall to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States.[1][2] Her confirmation was covered extensively in national and international media, and her swearing-in ceremony on June 30, 2022, was watched by millions.

Since joining the Court, Jackson has been invited to speak at numerous academic and public institutions. In September 2025, she appeared at the University of Virginia School of Law, where she reflected on her historic journey to the Supreme Court and discussed her career in a conversation that received a standing ovation from attendees.[15] She also spoke at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a historically Black university, in September 2025.[16] In November 2025, Jackson visited the University of Mississippi, where she shared her personal journey and discussed her memoir with students.[17]

Jackson's participation in Shakespeare Theatre Company mock trials and other public legal education events prior to her Supreme Court appointment also brought her recognition within the Washington, D.C., legal and arts communities.[18]

Legacy

Ketanji Brown Jackson's appointment to the Supreme Court marked a significant moment in the history of the American judiciary. As the first Black woman to serve on the Court, her elevation addressed a representation gap that had persisted for the entirety of the institution's existence since its founding in 1789. Her appointment was the culmination of a career that spanned public defense, private practice, federal sentencing policy, and service on two federal courts prior to the Supreme Court.[1][2]

Jackson's background as a former federal public defender distinguished her from virtually all prior Supreme Court justices, the vast majority of whom had come from backgrounds in prosecution, corporate law, or government legal positions. Her experience representing indigent defendants in federal criminal cases brought to the Court a perspective on the criminal justice system that had been largely absent from its deliberations. This background has been evident in her approach to cases involving criminal procedure, sentencing, and access to the courts.[3]

Her tenure on the Sentencing Commission, where she worked on federal sentencing guidelines and disparities, added a policy dimension to her judicial experience that complemented her courtroom background. Jackson's career trajectory — from public defender to sentencing commission vice chair to district judge to appellate judge to Supreme Court justice — represented one of the most varied professional paths taken to the highest court.[2]

As a member of the Court's liberal wing, Jackson's opinions and dissents in her early terms have contributed to ongoing debates about the scope of executive power, access to justice, administrative law, and constitutional interpretation. Her active engagement during oral arguments and her willingness to write separately in cases where she disagrees with the majority have established her as a distinct voice on the Court.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 "Ketanji Brown Jackson".Ballotpedia.https://ballotpedia.org/Ketanji_Brown_Jackson.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Ketanji Brown Jackson".Federal Judicial Center.https://www.fjc.gov/node/1394151.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 "Ketanji Brown Jackson Senate Questionnaire".United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Jackson%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20Public%20Final.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson Attorney Profile".Morrison & Foerster LLP (archived).https://web.archive.org/web/20080906150725/http://www.mofo.com/attorneys/13412/summary.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Shakespeare Theatre Company Mock Trial".DC Metro Theater Arts.2019-06-28.https://dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2019/06/28/shakespeare-theatre-company-mock-trial/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Twelfth Night Mock Trial: Olivia Versus Sebastian".DC Theatre Scene.2017-12-13.https://dctheatrescene.com/2017/12/13/twelfth-night-mock-olivia-versus-sebastian/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Friar Laurence Free to Go in Case of Juliet and Her Romeo".SCOTUSblog.2016-12.https://www.scotusblog.com/2016/12/friar-laurence-free-to-go-in-case-of-juliet-and-her-romeo/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Tom Goldstein Says Obama May Nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson".Business Insider.2016-02.https://www.businessinsider.com/tom-goldstein-says-obama-may-nominate-ketanji-brown-jackson-2016-2.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson nominated to D.C. Circuit".The Washington Post.2021-04-29.https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-dc-circuit/2021/04/29/c0bd2f0c-a761-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson Keeps Breaking With Supreme Court Over One Subject".Newsweek.2026-02-23.https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-keeps-breaking-with-supreme-court-11569794.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Ketanji Brown Jackson Uses 85-Year-Old Document in Tariff Ruling".Newsweek.2026-02-20.https://www.newsweek.com/ketanji-brown-jackson-uses-85-year-old-document-in-tariff-ruling-11556746.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Georgetown Day School Board of Trustees".Georgetown Day School.https://www.gds.org/about/leadership-and-faculty/board-of-trustees.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Reflects on Her Historic Journey".University of Virginia School of Law.2025-09-18.https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/202509/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-her-historic-journey.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "GOP senator calls for probe into Ketanji Brown Jackson attending Grammys".The Hill.2026-02.https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5726897-justice-jackson-grammy-controversy/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on challenges, kindness at UVA".UVA Today.2025-09-19.https://news.virginia.edu/content/supreme-court-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-reflects-challenges-kindness-uva.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "The Hon. Ketanji Brown Jackson Speaks at N.C. A&T".North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.2025-09-03.https://www.ncat.edu/calendar/2025/09/ketanji-brown-jackson.php.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Inspires Ole Miss Students During Stop".University of Mississippi.2025-11-25.https://olemiss.edu/news/2025/11/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-inspires-ole-miss-students-during-stop/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Hamilton/Burr Mock Trial".Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.2018-11.https://drexel.edu/law/about/news/articles/overview/2018/November/hamilton-burr-trial/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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