History of Ketanji Brown Jackson in Timeline
Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson is an American lawyer and jurist 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 in 2022. Jackson is the first Black woman and the first former federal public defender to hold this position. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the history of the Supreme Court and the legal profession.
September 14, 1970: Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson Born
On September 14, 1970, Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson was born. She is now an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
1988: Graduation from Palmetto as senior class president
In 1988, Ketanji Brown Jackson graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School as senior class president.
1989: Uncle's Sentencing
In 1989, while Ketanji Brown Jackson was an undergraduate at Harvard, her uncle Thomas Brown Jr. was sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine conviction.
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.
1992: Graduation from Harvard
In 1992, Ketanji Brown Jackson graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude. Her senior thesis was titled "The Hand of Oppression: Plea Bargaining Processes and the Coercion of Criminal Defendants".
1993: Attendance at Harvard Law School
In 1993, Ketanji Brown Jackson attended Harvard Law School.
1996: Law clerk for Judge Patti B. Saris
From 1996 to 1997, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as a law clerk to Judge Patti B. Saris of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
1996: Graduation from Harvard Law School
In 1996, Ketanji Brown Jackson graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor, cum laude.
1996: Married Patrick Graves Jackson
In 1996, Ketanji Brown Jackson married surgeon Patrick Graves Jackson, whom she met at Harvard College.
1997: Law clerk for Judge Bruce M. Selya
From 1997 to 1998, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as a law clerk to Judge Bruce M. Selya of the United States 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 for Justice Stephen Breyer
From 1999 to 2000, Ketanji Brown Jackson clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer.
2000: Return 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 for Justice Stephen Breyer
In 2000, Ketanji Brown Jackson's clerkship for Justice Stephen Breyer came to an end.
2002: Private legal practice at Feinberg & Rozen LLP
From 2002 to 2003, Ketanji Brown Jackson practiced law under Kenneth Feinberg at the law firm now called Feinberg & Rozen LLP.
2003: Assistant Special Counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission
From 2003 to 2005, Ketanji Brown Jackson served as an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission.
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 in Private Practice
From 2007 to 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson worked as an appellate specialist in private practice at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster.
July 23, 2009: Nomination 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
On November 5, 2009, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably reported Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination as vice chair of the United States Sentencing Commission by voice vote.
February 11, 2010: Confirmation by the Senate
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: Vice Chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission
In 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission.
2010: Served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School
In 2010, Ketanji Brown Jackson served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School, a Baptist school.
2010: End of Private Practice
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: Served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School
In 2011, Ketanji Brown Jackson served on the advisory board of Montrose Christian School, a Baptist 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.
2012: Violation of Rights in Pierce v. District of Columbia
In 2012, the D.C. Department of Corrections violated the rights of a deaf inmate, Mr. Pierce, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which led to the 2015 ruling by Ketanji Brown Jackson.
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 as a United States district judge by voice vote.
2013: American Meat Institute v. U.S. Department of Agriculture ruling
In 2013, Ketanji Brown Jackson rejected the meat packing industry's request for a preliminary injunction to block a United States Department of Agriculture rule in the case of American Meat Institute v. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2013: Appointment as a 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.
2014: Depomed v. Department of Health and Human Services ruling
In 2014, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had violated the Administrative Procedure Act in Depomed v. Department of Health and Human Services. She concluded that the Orphan Drug Act required the FDA to grant Gralise exclusivity.
2014: End of Term on Sentencing Commission
In 2014, Ketanji Brown Jackson's service on the United States Sentencing Commission came to an end.
2014: End of term as vice chairwoman
In 2014, Ketanji Brown Jackson's term as the vice chairwoman of the United States Sentencing Commission ended.
2015: Pierce v. District of Columbia ruling
In 2015, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that the D.C. Department of Corrections violated the rights of a deaf inmate under the Americans with Disabilities Act in Pierce v. District of Columbia.
2016: Harvard Board of Overseers Member
In 2016, Ketanji Brown Jackson became a Harvard Board of Overseers member.
2016: Vetted as Potential Supreme Court Nominee
In early 2016, Obama administration officials vetted Ketanji Brown Jackson as a potential nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
2017: Presented at the University of Georgia School of Law's 35th Edith House Lecture
In 2017, Ketanji Brown Jackson presented at the University of Georgia School of Law's 35th Edith House Lecture.
2017: Speech about Family Lineage
In a 2017 speech, Ketanji Brown Jackson mentioned that her ancestors were slaves on both sides of her family.
June 2018: Teen pregnancy prevention program case
In June 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson presided over cases challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' decision to terminate grants for teen pregnancy prevention programs two years early.
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: American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump ruling
In 2018, 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 in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump.
2018: Presided over a 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 the National Constitution Center's town hall on Alexander Hamilton's legacy
In 2018, Ketanji Brown Jackson was a panelist at the National Constitution Center's town hall on Alexander Hamilton's legacy.
2019: Center for Biological Diversity v. McAleenan ruling
In 2019, 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 certain environmental requirements in Center for Biological Diversity v. McAleenan.
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 for undocumented immigrants.
2019: Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn ruling
In 2019, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled in favor of the House Committee in Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn, compelling Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena for an impeachment inquiry hearing.
2019: Ruling on Trump executive orders reversed
In 2019, Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that provisions in three Trump executive orders conflicted with federal employee rights to collective bargaining, but her decision was reversed unanimously by the D.C. Circuit.
2019: Ruling vacated on jurisdictional grounds
In 2019, the D.C. Circuit vacated Ketanji Brown Jackson's ruling in American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump on jurisdictional grounds.
August 2020: Affirmation of part of the decision by the D.C. Circuit
In August 2020, the D.C. Circuit affirmed part of Ketanji Brown Jackson's decision in Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn.
2020: Biden Pledged to Appoint a Black Woman to the Supreme Court
During the 2020 United States presidential election campaign, Biden pledged to appoint a black woman to the court should a vacancy occur.
2020: Authored Majority Opinion in American Federation of Government Employees v. FLRA
In 2020, Ketanji Brown Jackson authored the majority opinion in American Federation of Government Employees v. FLRA, her first written opinion for the court of appeals, where she wrote that a 2020 FLRA law change stood in violation with U.S. Code 5 § 706.
2020: Gave the Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture at the University of Michigan Law School
In 2020, Ketanji Brown 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: Ruling affirmed by D.C. Circuit
In 2020, the D.C. Circuit affirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson's ruling dismissing the wrongful death and product liability lawsuits related to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
2020: Reversal of preliminary injunction
In 2020, the D.C. Circuit reversed Ketanji Brown Jackson's entry of the preliminary injunction in Make The Road New York v. McAleenan.
March 30, 2021: Biden announced intention to nominate Jackson as a United States circuit judge
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 to be a United States circuit judge for the District of Columbia Circuit was sent to the Senate. Biden nominated Jackson to the seat vacated by Judge Merrick Garland.
April 28, 2021: Hearing Before the Senate Judiciary Committee
On April 28, 2021, a hearing on Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she was questioned about several of her rulings against the Trump administration.
June 4, 2021: McGahn Testimony
On June 4, 2021, Don McGahn testified behind closed doors under an agreement reached with the Biden administration, while the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives v. McGahn case was still pending.
June 17, 2021: End of Service as a 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: Confirmation Hearing
During her 2021 confirmation hearing, Republicans tried to cast her history as a public defender as a liability, while her supporters touted it as an asset.
2021: Conservative activists point to decisions reversed on appeal
In 2021, Bloomberg Law reported that conservative activists were pointing to certain decisions by Ketanji Brown Jackson that had been reversed on appeal.
2021: Elevation 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: Reported Lack of Appeals Court Opinions
In January 2022, The New York Times reported that Ketanji Brown Jackson had not yet written a body of appeals court opinions expressing a legal philosophy.
February 25, 2022: Nomination 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 a 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 Breyer's retirement went into effect.
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: Received the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award
In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson received the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award, presented by Awards Council members Justice Amy Coney Barrett and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.
2022: Service on the United States Court of Appeals ends
In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson's service on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit came to an end.
2022: Speculation of Nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court
In early 2022, news outlets speculated that Biden would nominate Ketanji Brown 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.
February 28, 2023: Authored first majority opinion for a unanimous court
On February 28, 2023, Ketanji Brown Jackson authored her first majority opinion for a unanimous court in Delaware v. Pennsylvania, concerning how unclaimed money from MoneyGrams are distributed among individual states.
June 1, 2023: Wrote Sole Dissenting Opinion in Glacier Northwest, Inc. v. Teamsters
On June 1, 2023, Ketanji Brown 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, related to court deference to NLRB authority in labor disputes.
December 2024: Broadway Debut
In December 2024, Ketanji Brown Jackson appeared in the Broadway production of & Juliet in a brief cameo.
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