Ketanji Brown Jackson Fast Facts

CNN Editorial Research
2 minute read
Updated 1:43 PM EDT, Tue August 29, 2023
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1985. She attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1985. She attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1988, when she was class president.
Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1988, when she was class president.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson and Stephen Rosenthal, high school seniors, are pictured as "Hall of Fame" members in their 1988 yearbook. "I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment," Jackson said in the yearbook.
Jackson and Stephen Rosenthal, high school seniors, are pictured as "Hall of Fame" members in their 1988 yearbook. "I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment," Jackson said in the yearbook.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson was a member of the debate team at Miami Palmetto Senior High School before earning both her undergraduate degree and law degree at Harvard.
Jackson was a member of the debate team at Miami Palmetto Senior High School before earning both her undergraduate degree and law degree at Harvard.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson's yearbook photo at Harvard in 1992.
Jackson's yearbook photo at Harvard in 1992.
Harvard Yearbook Publications
Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, left, administers the oath of office to US District Court judge Jackson in May 2013. Jackson's husband, Patrick Jackson, is holding the Bible.
Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, left, administers the oath of office to US District Court judge Jackson in May 2013. Jackson's husband, Patrick Jackson, is holding the Bible.
Diego M. Radzinschi/The National Law Journal/ALM Media
From left, Judges Sri Srinivasan, David Tatel and Jackson walk into a ceremonial courtroom in 2017 during a high school mock trial in Washington, DC.
From left, Judges Sri Srinivasan, David Tatel and Jackson walk into a ceremonial courtroom in 2017 during a high school mock trial in Washington, DC.
Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson listens to arguments as local high school students observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court case in 2019 at the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
Jackson listens to arguments as local high school students observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court case in 2019 at the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson, center, talks with local high school students who have come to observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court in 2019. Also on the bench with her are Srinivasan, far left, and Tatel.
Jackson, center, talks with local high school students who have come to observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court in 2019. Also on the bench with her are Srinivasan, far left, and Tatel.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson, left, and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi are sworn in during their Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, in April 2021. Jackson was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit and Jackson-Akiwumi was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
Jackson, left, and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi are sworn in during their Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, in April 2021. Jackson was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit and Jackson-Akiwumi was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Jackson smiles as her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Leila, listen during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in April 2021.
Jackson smiles as her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Leila, listen during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in April 2021.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Jackson is sworn in by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals Sri Srinivasan in 2021. She is with her husband, Patrick.
Jackson is sworn in by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals Sri Srinivasan in 2021. She is with her husband, Patrick.
Provided to CNN
Jackson works in her office in Washington, DC, in January 2022.
Jackson works in her office in Washington, DC, in January 2022.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times/Redux
Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Jackson speaks at the White House after President Joe Biden announced her as his nominee to the Supreme Court on February 25, 2022.
Jackson speaks at the White House after President Joe Biden announced her as his nominee to the Supreme Court on February 25, 2022.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Jackson meets with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as she begins her confirmation process on Capitol Hill in March 2022.
Jackson meets with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as she begins her confirmation process on Capitol Hill in March 2022.
Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Jackson arrives for a meeting on Capitol Hill as she continued to meet with senators ahead of her confirmation hearings.
Jackson arrives for a meeting on Capitol Hill as she continued to meet with senators ahead of her confirmation hearings.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Jackson is sworn in prior to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/21/politics/gallery/ketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-hearings/index.html" target="_blank">her confirmation hearings</a> in March 2022. Throughout her hearings, Jackson defended her experience and credentials as she faced criticisms from Republican senators on her judicial philosophy and legal record.
Jackson is sworn in prior to her confirmation hearings in March 2022. Throughout her hearings, Jackson defended her experience and credentials as she faced criticisms from Republican senators on her judicial philosophy and legal record.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Biden congratulates Jackson during her confirmation vote in April 2022. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/ketanji-brown-jackson-senate-confirmation-vote/h_d4a99376976ed52d23742f6b1ac28a95" target="_blank">They watched the Senate vote</a> from the Roosevelt Room in the White House.
Biden congratulates Jackson during her confirmation vote in April 2022. They watched the Senate vote from the Roosevelt Room in the White House.
Al Drago/The New York Times/Redux
Jackson reacts while speaking at a White House ceremony a day after her confirmation. During <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-harris-speech/h_141440e9a56f7e98c762a06a8ed49936" target="_blank">an emotional address,</a> she spoke of the responsibility she will have as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. She also paid homage to those who paved the path for her along the way. "No one does this on their own," she said. "The path was cleared for me so that I might rise to this occasion."
Jackson reacts while speaking at a White House ceremony a day after her confirmation. During an emotional address, she spoke of the responsibility she will have as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. She also paid homage to those who paved the path for her along the way. "No one does this on their own," she said. "The path was cleared for me so that I might rise to this occasion."
Leigh Vogel/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Justice Stephen Breyer administers the Judicial Oath to Jackson as her husband, Patrick, holds the Bible in June 2022.
Justice Stephen Breyer administers the Judicial Oath to Jackson as her husband, Patrick, holds the Bible in June 2022.
Fred Schilling/Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Jackson poses with other members of the Supreme Court as a<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/30/politics/justice-ketanji-brown-jackson-investitutre/index.html" target="_blank"> formal investiture ceremony</a> was held in September 2022. From left are Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jackson, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh.
Jackson poses with other members of the Supreme Court as a formal investiture ceremony was held in September 2022. From left are Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jackson, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh.
Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Jackson and Roberts walk outside the Supreme Court, where they posed for photos after her investiture ceremony.
Jackson and Roberts walk outside the Supreme Court, where they posed for photos after her investiture ceremony.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
In pictures: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
CNN  — 

Here is a look at the life of US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Personal

Birth date: September 14, 1970

Birth place: Washington, DC

Birth name: Ketanji Onyika Brown

Father: Johnny Brown, attorney

Mother: Ellery Brown, school principal

Marriage: Patrick Jackson (1996-present)

Children: Leila and Talia

Education: Harvard University, B.A., 1992, magna cum laude; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1996, cum laude

Religion: Nondenominational Protestant

Other Facts

Ketanji Onyika is an African name meaning “lovely one.”

While at Harvard Law School, Jackson served as a supervising editor for the Harvard Law Review.

Jackson is the first Black woman to be nominated to the United States Supreme Court.

Jackson is the first justice to be a former public defender.

Jackson is related by marriage to former House Speaker and longtime Republican Rep. Paul Ryan.

Timeline

1992-1993 - Staff reporter and researcher at Time magazine.

1996-1997 - Law Clerk for District of Massachusetts Judge Patti B. Saris.

1997-1998 - Law Clerk for First Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bruce M. Selya.

1998-1999 - Associate at Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin LLP.

1999-2000 - Law Clerk for Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer.

2000-2002 - Associate at Goodwin Procter LLP.

2002-2003 - Associate at Feinberg Rozen, LLP (formerly known as The Feinberg Group, LLP).

2003 -2005 - Assistant Special Counsel at the United States Sentencing Commission.

2005 -2007 - Assistant Federal Public Defender in Washington, DC.

2007-2010 - Of Counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP.

2010-2014 - Vice Chair and Commissioner at the United States Sentencing Commission.

September 20, 2012 - President Barack Obama nominates Jackson for US District Court Judge. On March 23, 2013, the Senate votes to confirm Jackson.

March 30, 2021 - President Joe Biden announces his intent to nominate Jackson for the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. On June 14, the Senate votes 53-44 to confirm Jackson.

February 25, 2022 - Biden announces he has selected Jackson as his nominee to the Supreme Court.

April 7, 2022 - The Senate votes 53-47 to confirm Jackson.

June 30, 2022 - Jackson is sworn in as an associate justice to the United States Supreme Court, becoming the first Black woman to take a seat on the high court.

September 30, 2022 - Jackson’s investiture ceremony is held.