Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks after President Joe Biden announced Judge Jackson as his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court at the White House on Feb. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Joe Biden nominated D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would become the first Black female justice to serve on the high court. Here, Law360 looks at Judge Jackson and the confirmation process.
Senate Confirms Jackson As 1st Black Woman On High Court
By James Arkin | April 7, 2022
The Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th U.S. Supreme Court justice and the first Black woman and former public defender ever to serve on the court.
Unions Support Judge Jackson's Supreme Court Confirmation
By Parker Purifoy | April 6, 2022
A group of 27 labor unions released a joint statement supporting Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as she faces a Senate vote to confirm her nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing her judicial record and experience.
Jackson Addresses Host Of IP Issues In Guarded Comments
By Ryan Davis | April 5, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson largely deflected questions about patent eligibility, inventions created by artificial intelligence, venue for patent cases and other intellectual property issues in written responses to senators, but she did shed some light on her thinking.
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CONFIRMATION
Judge Jackson's Nomination Set For Full Senate Action
By James Arkin | April 4, 2022
The nomination of D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black female justice in the U.S. Supreme Court's 232-year history is in the hands of the full Senate after the Judiciary Committee deadlocked on the nomination. The panel voted 11-11 along partisan lines on her nomination to replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
Graham Opposes Judge Jackson For Supreme Court
By James Arkin | March 31, 2022
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced that he would vote against confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court despite backing her past judicial nominations, underscoring the limited Republican support for her nomination.
Collins Will Vote For Jackson, Ensuring Some GOP Support
By James Arkin | March 30, 2022
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced she would vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the first Republican senator to back President Joe Biden's nominee and guaranteeing at least some bipartisan support for the confirmation.
Where Jackson's Senate Support Stands After Hearings
By James Arkin | March 25, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson emerged from the marathon U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings with solidified Democratic support for her nomination but with uncertainty over whether she would receive any yes votes from Republicans.
Who Are The Progressive Groups Backing Judge Jackson?
By Hannah Albarazi | March 24, 2022
GOP senators attacking Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court claim she's backed by so-called dark money organizations seeking to sow a liberal agenda on the court. But who are these groups — Demand Justice, Arabella Advisors and Sixteen Thirty Fund — and what's their response to the GOP's claims?
Key Moments From Judge Jackson's Final Day Of Testifying
By Jimmy Hoover | March 23, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson concluded her more than 20 hours in the witness chair before the Senate Judiciary Committee, answering additional questions over her sentencing decisions and offering reflections on her historic nomination — plus an unexpected revelation about a pending Supreme Court case. Here are the highlights.
Key Moments From Day 2 Of Judge Jackson's Senate Hearing
By Jimmy Hoover | March 22, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson withstood hours of questioning from senators Tuesday on the second day of her confirmation hearings, covering everything from her family background to her judicial philosophy, while defending against Republican attacks on her record. Here, Law360 breaks down the key moments.
Jackson Emphasizes Judges' Impartiality, 'Limited Authority'
By James Arkin | March 22, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson repeatedly stressed the "limited authority" of the judiciary and spelled out her methodology for approaching cases to ensure impartiality as she faced hours of probing and at times highly contentious questions from senators Tuesday on her life, record and judicial philosophy during the second day of her U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings.
If I Were A Senator: What Lawyers Would Ask Judge Jackson
By Hannah Albarazi | March 21, 2022
As Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson begins her U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Law360 asked 10 legal experts: What questions would you ask the nominee if you were on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and why?
Judge Jackson Touts 'Neutral Posture' In First Senate Hearing
By James Arkin | March 21, 2022
D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said that she takes the "duty to be independent very seriously" and that she hoped to carry on the "spirit" of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer if she is confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court as she appeared Monday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first day of her confirmation hearings.
What To Watch During Jackson's Confirmation Hearings
By James Arkin | March 18, 2022
D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee kick off Monday, starting the most critical week of her confirmation process as she seeks support to become the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Can Judge Jackson Help Heal High Court Confirmations?
By Andrew Strickler | March 18, 2022
With Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson set to make her case to join the U.S. Supreme Court, advocates for repairing a dysfunctional, no-holds-barred political climate around high court confirmations see a glimmer — just a glimmer — of hope.
GOP Sen. Criticizes Jackson Rulings On Sex Offender Cases
By James Arkin | March 17, 2022
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the Judiciary Committee, criticized U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's record in cases dealing with sex offenders, accusing her of issuing light sentences and warning he will raise the issue during confirmation hearings next week.
Jackson Meets With GOP Sens. For Support Before Hearings
By James Arkin | March 15, 2022
U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will face two full days of probing questions from senators as she aims to secure support to become the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. But in the lead-up to those public sessions, she's privately working to win over Republican senators.
Top Judiciary Republican Pans High Court Nominee Timeline
By James Arkin | March 7, 2022
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, fired a warning shot at Democrats over the timeline for the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, urging them not to rush the vetting process.
Confirmation Hearings For Judge Jackson To Begin March 21
By James Arkin | March 2, 2022
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will begin March 21, with introductory statements, and Judge Jackson will answer questions from senators the following two days.
How Jackson Would Shake Up High Court As 1st Ex-Defender
By Jack Queen | March 1, 2022
D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson would become the first former public defender to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court if confirmed, breathing new life into what some experts say is a neglected area of the high court's docket.
Biden Touts Jackson As 'Consensus Builder' In State Of Union
By James Arkin | March 1, 2022
President Joe Biden touted D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, as one of the nation's "top legal minds" during his first State of the Union address, but did not dwell on the coming Senate confirmation process during his hourlong remarks.
Judge Jackson To Kick Off Senator Meetings This Week
By James Arkin | February 28, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is scheduled to meet with top Senate leaders of both parties on Capitol Hill, officially kicking off the confirmation process as she aims to secure support to become the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
WHO IS KETANJI BROWN JACKSON?
Last Year's Vetting Hints At What's Next For Judge Jackson
By James Arkin | March 16, 2022
When President Joe Biden tapped Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Democrats pointed to one advantage for her confirmation process: She had cleared the Senate for a lower court seat with bipartisan support only eight months earlier.
How 2 Years In BigLaw Changed Judge Jackson's Career Path
By Jimmy Hoover | March 14, 2022
After clerking for Justice Stephen Breyer, a young Ketanji Brown Jackson went to Boston to work as an associate for the firm Goodwin Procter LLP. Two years and countless billable hours later, she knew BigLaw's partnership ladder wasn't for her and set out on a different legal path that could now lead to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Female Black Attys Look To Jackson's 'Fresh Perspective'
By Khorri Atkinson | March 11, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court is a watershed moment for Black women practicing appellate law, many of whom are watching with "immense pride" and "joy" as they witness one of their own on the verge of becoming the first Black female justice to serve on the high court in its 232-year history.
Ketanji Brown Jackson No 'Rubber Stamp' For Gov't Agencies
By Jimmy Hoover | March 3, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, far from being a "rubber stamp" for the government, often has ruled against federal agencies in legal battles over her near-decade on the federal bench. Here, Law360 examines the D.C. Circuit judge's administrative law record.
Biting Maxims, Careful Rigor Are Core To Jackson's Opinions
By Hannah Albarazi | March 2, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's opinions as a D.C. district and appellate court judge suggest that she's focused on making her rulings clear and widely accessible, free of philosophical meanderings but not without the occasional piercing maxim.
The Jackson Ruling That Reverberates In Drug Pricing Debate
By Adam Lidgett | March 2, 2022
As a longtime Washington, D.C., federal judge, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson saw her share of health care and pharmaceutical cases, including one that reverberated through the drug pricing realm for years and ultimately prompted a congressional response.
Years On The Trial Court Lend Insight Into Judge Jackson
By Jack Karp | February 28, 2022
While Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has spent less than a year on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, authoring just two opinions during that period, she spent eight years as district judge — a rare experience for most recent nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court and one that could provide insight into the kind of justice she might be. Here, Law360 Pulse takes a dive into the data from Judge Jackson's years on the trial court bench.
2 Tax Opinions From Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To Know
By Joshua Rosenberg | February 28, 2022
Though Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated by President Joe Biden to the U.S. Supreme Court, has not been a prolific author of tax-related opinions, she has demonstrated a knack for writing thorough, well-reasoned judgments involving complex legal questions. Here, Law360 takes a closer look at two tax-related opinions Judge Jackson wrote during her time serving on the D.C. district court.
3 Jackson Rulings To Know In Product, Personal Injury Cases
By Emily Field and Y. Peter Kang | February 28, 2022
During her eight-year tenure as a District of Columbia federal judge, U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson oversaw high-profile multidistrict litigation on the disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines flight and adjudicated a U.S. Capitol Police case with issues that may one day come before the high court.
4 Ketanji Brown Jackson Decisions Impacting Transportation
By Linda Chiem | February 28, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has addressed various transportation-related issues in a nearly decadelong career as a Washington, D.C., jurist, authoring decisions clarifying the federal courts' reach in matters concerning ride-hailing services, aviation accidents and ships held in port.
Party Leaders Vow Open Minds For New High Court Pick
By James Arkin and Christopher Cole | February 27, 2022
Senate Democrats have pledged to move quickly on President Joe Biden's selection to join the U.S. Supreme Court, and some Republicans left the door open to supporting Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, but neither side could resist sniping at each other over what has become a highly politicized process for filling open seats on the high court.
How Judge Jackson Beat Out Competition For High Court Nod
By Hannah Albarazi | February 25, 2022
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nearly decadelong roots in the D.C. judiciary and recent history of bipartisan support likely elevated her over another front-runner for the U.S. Supreme Court seat, U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs of South Carolina, who had the backing of her two home state Republican senators.
6 Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Opinions To Read Now
By Jimmy Hoover | February 25, 2022
D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, recently nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court, spent eight years as a federal trial court judge in Washington, D.C., where she handled high-profile showdowns between Congress and the White House, major rulemaking challenges and the notorious "Pizzagate" case. Here are her most notable rulings.
1st Circ. Judge Selya Says Jackson Will Be 'Balanced'
By Aebra Coe and Chris Villani | February 25, 2022
First Circuit Judge Bruce Selya says D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, his former clerk and now U.S. Supreme Court nominee, is someone who "listens to different points of view respectfully" and will be "quite balanced" if confirmed.
4 Ketanji Brown Jackson Rulings On National Security
By Daniel Wilson | February 25, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has addressed a number of important defense and national security-related issues on the federal bench, including whether Guam can pursue costs for cleaning up a Navy dump and the secrecy of government operations. Here, Law360 looks at four of those decisions.
Why Ketanji Brown Jackson Honored This Historic Judge
By Hailey Konnath | February 25, 2022
U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson named the late Constance Baker Motley as an inspiration in her White House speech, drawing attention to a pioneering civil rights hero who was the first Black woman to argue before the high court as well as the first to serve as a federal judge.
Biden's Supreme Court Pick Was Star Debater In Miami
By Carolina Bolado | February 25, 2022
Even on a nationally ranked debate team at Miami Palmetto Senior High filled with talented high achievers, U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson stood out as a superstar and excelled at the extracurricular activity that she says "best prepared me for future success in law and in life."
4 Ketanji Brown Jackson Rulings Workplace Attys Should See
By Vin Gurrieri | February 25, 2022
A look at the labor and employment rulings from D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, whom President Joe Biden has picked to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, reveals some noteworthy wins for unions and a willingness to delve deeply into how landmark high court decisions like Wal-Mart v. Dukes should be applied.
Biden Nominates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To High Court
By Jimmy Hoover | February 25, 2022
President Joe Biden nominated D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, choosing the recently elevated federal trial court judge to potentially become the first Black female justice in the court's 232-year history.
PODCASTS
The Term: Ketanji Brown Jackson Faces The Senate
By Law360 | March 24, 2022
Four days. Emotional moments. Fierce partisanship. D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson made it through the crucible of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, withstanding more than 20 hours of questioning from lawmakers. Here, Law360's The Term reflects on what we learned about the potential next U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Pro Say: Ketanji Brown Jackson's Biggest Rulings
By Law360 | March 4, 2022
With confirmation hearings on the way, the Pro Say team looks at some of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson's most high-profile opinions, including an early win for the House Judiciary Committee in its pursuit of testimony from former White House Counsel Don McGahn and the sentencing of the shooter in the infamous Pizzagate incident.
The Term: Ketanji Brown Jackson In Her Own Words
By Law360 | March 1, 2022
From being Matt Damon's scene partner as an undergrad to getting swamped with 150 cases as a rookie judge, Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson has publicly shared a number of stories over the years from her life and career as a self-identified "professional vagabond." Listen to Judge Jackson in her own words on this week's episode of "The Term" podcast.