Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Ketanji Onyka Brown Jackson was born in September 1970 in Washington, D.C. She earned both an undergraduate degree and a Juris Doctor from Harvard University. She clerked in several courts, including one clerkship with Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
During law school, Jackson served as a reporter and staff researcher for Time magazine.
She served as co-chair of the United States Screening Commission for four years. She has been a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers. She served as a district judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for eight years, before being elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where she served one year.
She was nominated to be a Justice on the United States Supreme Court by President Joe Biden. She was confirmed by the Senate and was sworn in as an associate justice on June 30, 2022, concurrent with the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer.
She is married to Dr. Patrick G. Jackson, and they have two daughters. She is a non-denominational Protestant.
In the News…
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, on her first day as a Supreme Court Justice, questioned a lawyer on portions of the Clean Waters Act. The lawsuit, which deals with the extent of EPA regulations, could be especially important in regard to wetlands.
Justice Jackson asked several questions during her first oral arguments since joining the bench. She was joined at times by two other justices, suggesting that the intent of Congress was clear. They pushed on the notion that a wetland doesn’t have to actually touch the surface of navigable water in order to trigger government regulation.
Several times, she broke with Court practice, interrupting another justice on the bench. At the end of arguments, she also broke from usual procedures by interrupting a lawyer during his rebuttal, a period of time when the justices usually allow a lawyer to have his final say. Chief Justice John Roberts offered the lawyer more time.
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Justice Jackson today? You can let her know at:
The Honorable Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Supreme Court of the United States
1 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20543
