Ketanji Brown Jackson made history in 2022 as the first Black female Supreme Court justice. But that milestone was just the beginning of her remarkable journey.
Three years into her tenure, Jackson continues reshaping expectations at every turn. From authoring fiery dissents that challenge presidential power to fulfilling childhood dreams on Broadway stages, she’s proving that judicial excellence and human authenticity can coexist.
The Historic Confirmation That Changed Everything
The path to the Supreme Court was swift but significant. On 7th April 2022, the Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson by a 53-47 vote, marking a watershed moment for American jurisprudence.
President Joe Biden fulfilled his campaign promise by nominating Jackson to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. The confirmation process took just 41 days. Three Republican senators joined all Democrats in supporting her nomination.
Jackson brought unprecedented credentials to the bench:
- Harvard Law School graduate (magna cum laude)
- Former federal public defender
- Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission
- Federal judge on both district and appellate courts
She was sworn in on 30th June 2022, becoming the 116th Associate Justice and the sixth woman to serve on the nation’s highest court.
A Voice That Refuses to Be Silenced
Since joining the court, Jackson has emerged as its most vocal critic of executive overreach. Recent cases in November 2025 highlight her unwavering commitment to constitutional principles.
During arguments over SNAP benefits amid a government shutdown, Jackson made procedural moves that demonstrated strategic judicial thinking. She temporarily paused the release of food assistance payments, not to side with any administration, but to ensure proper appellate review.
“She’s modelling the way that the emergency docket should be used,” noted Elizabeth Wydra of the Constitutional Accountability Center.
Jackson’s approach stands out in another way. SCOTUSBlog contributors observed she speaks an average of 1,350 words per oral argument. That’s more than any other sitting justice, who average fewer than 1,000 words each.
The Broadway Dream Comes True
In December 2024, Jackson achieved something no Supreme Court justice had ever done. She made her Broadway debut in the musical “& Juliet.”
The one-night-only appearance fulfilled a dream Jackson had written about decades earlier. In her Harvard application essay, she expressed her “fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.”
The role was specially created for her. She performed in the ensemble during the 8pm show on 14th December, then participated in a post-show talkback with the audience.
“I got a call, and someone said, ‘We heard that this was your lifelong dream.’ And it is,” Jackson told NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me.
Her theatrical background runs deep. At Harvard, she performed in Little Shop of Horrors alongside frequent Wait Wait panelist Mo Rocca. She even took a drama class where she was scene partners with future Academy Award winner Matt Damon.
Justice served. pic.twitter.com/DeeYRvxQum
— & Juliet Broadway (@AndJulietBway) December 16, 2024
Memoir Reveals the Person Behind the Robe
Jackson’s 2024 memoir “Lovely One” offers insights into her journey from Miami to the Supreme Court. The book details her parents’ experiences growing up during segregation and the values they instilled in her.
“My parents grew up in a time in this country in which Black children and White children were not allowed to go to school together,” Jackson shared during her confirmation hearings. “They taught me hard work. They taught me perseverance. They taught me that anything is possible in this great country.”
The memoir also reveals her “unabashed love of theater” and documents how artistic expression shaped her path to judicial service.
Recent Cases Show Independent Thinking
Jackson’s recent Supreme Court activity demonstrates she’s unafraid to stand alone when principles demand it. In July 2025, she was the sole dissenter in an 8-1 ruling on Trump’s federal workforce reorganisation.
She’s also raised concerns about the “state of our democracy” in public appearances. In November 2025, Jackson spoke at the Indianapolis Bar Association about her worries for democratic institutions.
“I’m really very interested to get people to focus, and to invest and to pay attention to what is happening in our country and in our government,” she stated.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett has publicly criticised some of Jackson’s dissents, including in Trump v. CASA, writing that “Justice Jackson decries an imperial Executive while embracing an imperial Judiciary.“
Making History in Numbers
Jackson’s appointment created several historic firsts:
- First Black woman on the Supreme Court
- First former federal public defender on the court
- Part of the first Supreme Court where white men don’t constitute a majority
- First Supreme Court justice to perform on Broadway
She joined a bench that now includes four women justices and three justices of colour for the first time in history.
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The Road Ahead
At 55 years old, Jackson could serve on the Supreme Court for decades. Her voice represents perspectives historically absent from American jurisprudence.
She continues balancing judicial duties with public engagement, speaking at events like the 2025 Supreme Court Fellows Program at the Library of Congress.
The Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court milestone extends beyond a single appointment. It represents generations of progress, the fulfilment of promises, and proof that excellence recognises no boundaries.
As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said during her confirmation: “In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, never, never has a Black woman held the title of Justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first and I believe the first of more to come.”
Her journey from courtroom to curtain call reminds us that the most powerful voices often belong to those who refused to be limited by tradition.
