Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson
Born	Ketanji Onyika Brown 14 9, 1970
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Known for	First Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court
Education	Harvard University (BA, JD)
Children	2

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. 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. Alongside justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, Jackson is considered part of the Court's liberal wing.

Early Life

Ketanji Onyika Brown was born on September 14, 1970, in Washington, D.C. Her parents were both graduates of historically Black colleges and universities. The family relocated to Miami, Florida, where Jackson was raised. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Education

Jackson enrolled at Harvard University for her undergraduate studies, graduating magna cum laude in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. During her time as an undergraduate, she was involved in various campus activities and developed a strong interest in public policy and constitutional law.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Jackson attended Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor cum laude in 1996. 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.

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.

Career

Clerkships and Early Legal Career

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. 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.

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. Her work in private practice spanned complex litigation and appellate advocacy, providing her with extensive experience in federal court proceedings.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. She succeeded Rubén Castillo as vice chair and was succeeded by L. Felipe Restrepo.

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. She was confirmed by the United States Senate and received her judicial commission on March 26, 2013, succeeding Judge Henry H. Kennedy Jr.

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.

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.

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.

United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

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. 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.

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.

Nomination and Confirmation to the Supreme Court

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Supreme Court Tenure

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.

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.

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.

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.

Personal Life

Ketanji Brown Jackson is married to Patrick G. Jackson, a surgeon. The couple has two daughters. Her husband is a graduate of Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. The family resides in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

Jackson's uncle, Calvin Ross, served in law enforcement, and the broader family has had a long connection to public service. Jackson has spoken publicly about the influence of her parents, both educators, on her values and career trajectory.

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. She also served as a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers from 2016 to 2022, the university's second governing body.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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." In November 2025, Jackson visited the University of Mississippi, where she shared her personal journey and discussed her memoir with students.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.