Career Timeline of Ketanji Brown Jackson: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Ketanji Brown Jackson, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson is an American lawyer and jurist currently serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Nominated by President Joe Biden, she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in 2022. Jackson's appointment marks several historical milestones: she is the first Black woman, the first former federal public defender, and the sixth woman to hold a position on the Supreme Court.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1992: Staff Reporter and Researcher for Time Magazine

From 1992 to 1993, Ketanji Brown Jackson worked as a staff reporter and researcher for "Time" magazine.

1996: Law Clerk to Judge Patti B. Saris

From 1996 to 1997, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as a law clerk to Judge Patti B. Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

1997: Law Clerk to Judge Bruce M. Selya

From 1997 to 1998, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as a law clerk to Judge Bruce M. Selya of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

1998: Private Practice at Miller Cassidy Larroca & Lewin

In 1998, Ketanji Brown Jackson spent a year in private practice at the Washington, D.C., law firm of Miller Cassidy Larroca & Lewin (now part of Baker Botts).

1999: Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer

From 1999 to 2000, Ketanji Brown Jackson clerked for Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

2000: Returned to Private Legal Practice

From 2000 to 2002, Ketanji Brown Jackson returned to private legal practice at the law firm of Goodwin Procter.

2000: End of Clerkship with Justice Breyer

In 2000, Ketanji Brown Jackson's clerkship with Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer concluded.

2002: Joined Feinberg & Rozen LLP

From 2002 to 2003, Ketanji Brown Jackson worked under Kenneth Feinberg at the law firm now called Feinberg & Rozen LLP.

2003: Assistant Special Counsel

From 2003 to 2005, Ketanji Brown Jackson was an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission.

2003: Michael E. Horowitz Served Until 2009

From 2003 until 2009, Michael E. Horowitz served as the vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission before Ketanji Brown Jackson.

2005: Assistant Federal Public Defender

From 2005 to 2007, Ketanji Brown Jackson was an assistant federal public defender in Washington, D.C.

2007: Appellate Specialist at Morrison & Foerster

From 2007 to 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson was an appellate specialist in private practice at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster.

July 23, 2009: Nominated as Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission

On July 23, 2009, President Obama nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson as vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission.

November 5, 2009: Nomination Favorably Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee

On November 5, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination by voice vote.

February 11, 2010: Confirmed as Vice Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission

On February 11, 2010, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination as vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission by voice vote.

2010: Advisory Board of Montrose Christian School

From 2010 to 2011, Ketanji Brown Jackson served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School.

2010: Vice Chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission

In 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission.

2010: End of time at Morrison & Foerster

In 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson's time as an appellate specialist in private practice at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster came to an end.

2011: Advisory Board of Montrose Christian School

From 2010 to 2011, Ketanji Brown Jackson served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School.

September 20, 2012: Nomination as United States District Judge

On September 20, 2012, President Obama nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve as a United States district judge for the District of Columbia.

December 2012: Confirmation Hearing

In December 2012, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan introduced Ketanji Brown Jackson at her confirmation hearing, endorsing her intellect, character, and integrity.

February 14, 2013: Nomination Favorably Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee

On February 14, 2013, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination by voice vote.

2013: Appointed as District Judge

In 2013, Ketanji Brown Jackson was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a district judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

2013: American Meat Institute v. U.S. Department of Agriculture Ruling

In 2013, in the case of American Meat Institute v. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ketanji Brown Jackson rejected the meat packing industry's request for a preliminary injunction to block a United States Department of Agriculture rule requiring them to identify animals' country of origin.

2014: End of Service on Sentencing Commission

In 2014, Ketanji Brown Jackson concluded her service on the United States Sentencing Commission.

2014: End of Term at the United States Sentencing Commission

In 2014, Ketanji Brown Jackson's term as the vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission came to an end.

2014: Depomed v. Department of Health and Human Services Ruling

In 2014, in Depomed v. Department of Health and Human Services, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it failed to grant pharmaceutical company Depomed market exclusivity for its orphan drug Gralise.

2015: Pierce v. District of Columbia Ruling

In 2015, in Pierce v. District of Columbia, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that the D.C. Department of Corrections violated the rights of a deaf inmate under the Americans with Disabilities Act because jail officials failed to provide the inmate with reasonable accommodations during his detention in 2012.

2016: Harvard Board of Overseers Member

From 2016, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as a Harvard Board of Overseers member until 2022.

2017: Presented at University of Georgia School of Law

In 2017, Ketanji Brown Jackson presented at the University of Georgia School of Law's 35th Edith House Lecture.

June 2018: Ruling on Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs

In June 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson presided over two cases challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' decision to terminate grants for teen pregnancy prevention programs two years early, ruling that the decision to terminate the grants early without explanation was arbitrary and capricious.

2018: Dismissal of Wrongful Death and Product Liability Lawsuits

In 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson dismissed 40 wrongful death and product liability lawsuits stemming from the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

2018: Presided over mock trial

In 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson presided over a mock trial hosted by Drexel University's Thomas R. Kline School of Law "to determine if Vice President Aaron Burr was guilty of murdering" Alexander Hamilton.

2018: Panelist at National Constitution Center town hall

In 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson was a panelist at the National Constitution Center's town hall on Alexander Hamilton's legacy.

2018: Invalidated Executive Orders in AFGE v. Trump

In 2018, in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump, Ketanji Brown Jackson invalidated provisions of three executive orders that would have limited the time federal employee labor union officials could spend with union members.

2019: Preliminary Injunction in Make The Road New York v. McAleenan

In 2019, Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a preliminary injunction in Make The Road New York v. McAleenan, blocking a Trump administration rule that would have expanded expedited removal without immigration court hearings for undocumented immigrants.

2019: Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn Ruling

In 2019, Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a ruling in Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn, compelling Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena to appear at an impeachment inquiry hearing.

2019: Center for Biological Diversity v. McAleenan Ruling

In 2019, in Center for Biological Diversity v. McAleenan, Ketanji Brown Jackson held that Congress had stripped federal courts of jurisdiction to hear non-constitutional challenges to the Homeland Security Secretary's decision to waive environmental requirements for border wall construction.

August 2020: D.C. Circuit Affirmed Part of Decision

In August 2020, the D.C. Circuit affirmed part of Ketanji Brown Jackson's 2019 decision in Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn.

2020: Biden Pledges to Appoint a Black Woman

During the 2020 United States presidential election campaign, Biden pledged to appoint a black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court should a vacancy occur.

2020: Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture

In 2020, Jackson gave the Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture at the University of Michigan Law School and was honored at the University of Chicago Law School's third annual Judge James B. Parsons Legacy Dinner.

2020: Affirmation of Ruling by D.C. Circuit

In 2020, the D.C. Circuit affirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson's 2018 ruling to dismiss the lawsuits related to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

March 30, 2021: President Biden announces intention to nominate Jackson

On March 30, 2021, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson as a United States circuit judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

April 19, 2021: Nomination sent to the Senate

On April 19, 2021, Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination for United States circuit judge was sent to the Senate. Biden nominated Jackson to the seat vacated by Judge Merrick Garland.

April 28, 2021: Hearing on Nomination

On April 28, 2021, the hearing on Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee, during which she was questioned about her rulings against the Trump administration.

June 4, 2021: McGahn Testified Behind Closed Doors

On June 4, 2021, Don McGahn testified behind closed doors under an agreement reached with the Biden administration, while the case remained pending.

June 17, 2021: End of Service as District Judge

On June 17, 2021, Ketanji Brown Jackson's service as a district judge ended when she was elevated to the court of appeals.

2021: Elevated to the United States Court of Appeals

In 2021, Ketanji Brown Jackson was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by President Joe Biden.

2021: Joined U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

In the summer of 2021, Ketanji Brown Jackson joined the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

January 2022: Report on Legal Philosophy

In January 2022, The New York Times reported that Jackson had not yet written a body of appeals court opinions expressing a legal philosophy.

February 25, 2022: Nominated to the Supreme Court

On February 25, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Joe Biden.

June 29, 2022: End of service as circuit judge

On June 29, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson's service as a circuit judge ended, the day before she was sworn in as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

June 30, 2022: Sworn in as Associate Justice

On June 30, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in and became an associate justice at noon, when Justice Breyer's retirement went into effect, making her the first Black woman and the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court.

September 28, 2022: Assigned as circuit justice for the First Circuit

On September 28, 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson was assigned as the circuit justice for the First Circuit.

2022: Served on the United States Court of Appeals

In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit until she was nominated to the Supreme Court.

2022: Speculation of Supreme Court Nomination

In early 2022, news outlets speculated that Biden would nominate Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the seat vacated by Justice Breyer.

2022: Most Active Participant in Oral Arguments

Since joining the Court at the beginning of the 2022 term, Ketanji Brown Jackson was the most active participant in oral arguments, speaking an average of 1,350 words per argument.

February 28, 2023: Authored first majority opinion

On February 28, 2023, Jackson authored her first majority opinion for a unanimous court in Delaware v. Pennsylvania, which involved how unclaimed money from MoneyGrams are distributed among individual states.

June 1, 2023: Dissenting opinion in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. Teamsters

On June 1, 2023, Jackson wrote the sole dissenting opinion in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. Teamsters, concerning the power of employers to sue labor unions regarding the destruction of employer property following a strike.

June 13, 2024: Opinion in Starbucks Corporation v. McKinney

On June 13, 2024, Jackson wrote an opinion, concurring in part and dissenting in part, in Starbucks Corporation v. McKinney.

July 8, 2025: Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump, Jackson dissents

On July 8, 2025, in AFGE v. Trump, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order on Trump's federal workforce reorganization, ruling in Trump's favor 8-1, with Jackson the lone dissenter.