President Biden’s Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson is an American attorney and jurist who has a connection to a former GOP speaker of the House and is famous for handing former President Donald Trump a major judicial loss.
Jackson currently sits on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where Biden nominated her less than a year ago to take the seat of Attorney General Merrick Garland. She was the most high-profile choice among Biden’s first round of judicial nominations. Now let’s get to know her!
5 Facts Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson:
- Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in September 1970. Her family moved to Miami, FL., where she grew up and graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She then attended Harvard University, where she earned both her undergraduate and law degrees.
- Public service runs deep in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s family. She has a family’s history of serving the community. “I come from a background of public service. My parents were in public service, my brother was a police officer and (was) in the military” Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
- The American Bar Association unanimously gave Jackson a “well qualified” rating to serve on the Court — its highest rating—because of her track record.
- President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for the seat vacated by Merrick Garland.
- Judge Jackson’s nomination is one step towards making history. If confirmed, she will become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
5 lessons from Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmation hearings.
- Your tears are a sign of strength not weakness: Many times we find it difficult to cry in front of our colleagues and strangers but Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson let her tears flow in public. She didn’t care about the opinions of others that may see that as a weakness. She showed us that our tears are a sign of courage and strength. Rather than holding back your tears, let them flow, because expressing how you feel through tears is a sign of strength.
- Keep Record of your achievements: You need a brag sheet. This will not only help you on days that you feel weary and unmotivated but also days when you face critics and naysayers, you have a track record to show them that their concerns are invalid. Keep a brag sheet!
- Swift to hear, Slow to give a reaction: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson had perfectly controlled her emotions during the hearing. There was no time she let the questions, gestures and body language of the members of the committee affect how she felt or impact her responses to the questions asked. No matter how confrontational some of the Senators became, she thought carefully before giving a response.
- Don’t jump to conclusions: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was asked questions on controversial topics. Some of these questions were clearly asked to put her in a fix but her calmness in the midst of Confrontations and questions helped her provide answers to the ones that needed answers and evade others.This also helped her think thoroughly before responding to questions and assuming that the best of the committee.
- You are worthy: Nothing should ever limit you. Not your color, your gender or even your hair. You put in the work needed to be whoever you want to be and you go grab it! Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has shown us that nothing can limit us and we are deserving of the best! In the words of Sen. Cory Booker “You have earned this spot. You are worthy.”
