--- title: "Ketanji Brown Jackson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ketanji-brown-jackson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court of the United States · Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of the United States - State: National federal courts - Role: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, 2022-present - Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, 2021-2022 - Her judicial career includes service as a district judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (2013–2021), followed by appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2021 - Assistant federal public defender, District of Columbia, 2005-2007 - Law clerk, Hon. Stephen G. Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States, 1999-2000 - Law clerk, Hon. Bruce M. Selya, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, 1997-1998 - Law clerk, Hon. Patti B. Saris, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, 1996-1997 ### Education - She attended Harvard University, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in government in 1992, and later earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1996, where she held the role of a supervising editor of the Harvard Law Review. - Harvard-Radcliffe College — Government — B.A. (1992) ### Additional information - President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in 2022, and she was confirmed by the Senate with a 53–47 vote, taking office on June 30, 2022, becoming the first Black woman and sixth woman overall to serve on the Court. - Vice chair, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2010-2014 - Private practice, Washington, D.C., 2007-2010 - Assistant Special Counsel, U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2003-2005 - Private practice, Washington, D.C., 2002-2003 - Private practice, Boston, MA, 2000-2002 - Private practice, Washington, D.C., 1998-1999 - Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson was born on September 14, 1970, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Florida, by parents who were both educators. - Date of birth: 1970-09-14 - Began her legal career with three prestigious federal clerkships, including for Justice Stephen Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court, whose seat she later assumed. - Miami Palmetto High School - Worked in both private practice and public service, including as an attorney at the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as an assistant federal public defender, making her the first former federal public defender to serve on the Supreme Court. - She is considered part of the Court’s liberal wing, alongside Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. - Jackson is married to Dr. Patrick Jackson, and they have two daughters. - Birth place: Washington, DC ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### courtroom address Scope: courtwide Wait at the lectern until recognized, open with the court's prescribed salutation, do not introduce counsel, address the Chief Justice with the specified title, and address other Justices as Justice [name] or Your Honor, not Judge. Evidence excerpt: Others are referred to as "Justice Thomas," "Justice Kagan," or "Your Honor." Do not use the title "Judge." [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### argument time Scope: courtwide Argument is normally scheduled for 30 minutes, but counsel need not use all allotted time. Evidence excerpt: Your argument time is normally scheduled for 30 minutes (Rule 28.3). You need not use all your time. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### time signal Scope: courtwide When the red light comes on, finish answering the pending question but do not present a summation. Evidence excerpt: When the red light comes on, counsel may finish responding to a question that is pending, but should not present a summation. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### prepared script Scope: courtwide Speak clearly into the microphone, do not read from a prepared script, and do not use rapid-fire delivery to stretch argument time. Evidence excerpt: Under no circumstances should you read your argument from a prepared script. You should not attempt to enhance your argument time by a rapid fire delivery. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### justice questions Scope: courtwide Never interrupt a Justice. If interrupted, stop speaking immediately, listen, and give that Justice full attention. Evidence excerpt: Never interrupt a Justice who is addressing you. Give your full time and attention to that Justice. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### direct answers Scope: courtwide Answer questions directly, use yes or no when possible before explaining, and say so if you do not know the answer. Evidence excerpt: Make every effort to answer questions directly. If at all possible, say "yes" or "no," and then expand upon your answer if you wish. If you do not know the answer, say so. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Official roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Supreme Court of the United States current members](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1609/ketanji-brown-jackson/) - [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Wikidata: Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6395324) - [Federal Judicial Center: D.C. Circuit judicial service](https://www.fjc.gov/history/courts/u.s.-court-appeals-district-columbia-circuit-justices-and-judges) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Wikidata: Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6395324) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ketanji-brown-jackson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ketanji-brown-jackson", "name": "Ketanji Brown Jackson | KnowJudges", "description": "Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court of the United States. 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