KETANJI BROWN JACKSON
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Born in 1970, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson grew up in both Washington D.C. and Miami, Florida. From the sweet and innocent days of elementary life, Brown Jackson knew that she wanted to be a lawyer. With an admiring eye, she watched the work of her father, an attorney. With a dedicated drive and diligence, Brown Jackson excelled through school with many honors and superlatives. However, one of her counselors told her to not set her “sights so high.” Wow, she sure proved them wrong!
Justice Brown Jackson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and began working for Time and Harvard Law Review immediately out of college. Clerking for three federal justices, she quickly learned the ropes and mastered the art of being an exceptional lawyer. Working as an assistant federal public defender, she fought for the integrity of low-income criminals. Soon appointed by President Obama to the US Sentencing Commission, she graciously executed the job of working with both liberal and conservative minded officials. Giving back, Brown Jackson also teaches the next generation of lawyers, instituting a perseverance to advance the human rights of Americans every day.
Justice Brown Jackson’s story is crucial to understanding the importance of representation, inclusion, and diversity. With President Biden’s successful promise to nominate the first Black Supreme Court Justice, she acts as an aid to those who have been underrepresented. She is a new voice to the Courts that serves to protect those whose lives have been oppressed by long-lasting injustice. To all those who want to make change: Do not submit to the discouraging remarks and critiques of others. Just because what you want has not happened yet does not mean that it is impossible. Brown Jackson said, "It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we've made it! We've made it — all of us."
~Mary Jo '23
Sources:
https://www.afj.org/document/judge-ketanji-brown-jackson-fact-sheet/
https://naacp.org/resources/historic-nomination-ketanji-brown-jackson-supreme-court
https://people.com/politics/ketanji-brown-jackson-most-inspiring-quotes/
