Who did Ketanji Brown Jackson replace?

Justice Stephen Breyer, for whom she had clerked early in her career.

What was Ketanji Brown Jackson's background?

Harvard Law School, a clerkship with Justice Breyer, work as a federal public defender, and service as a federal judge.

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Ketanji Brown Jackson

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the first Black woman on the Court · b. 1970

KB

BORN: 1970
ERA: 2022 to Present
KNOWN FOR: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the first Black woman on the Court

§ THE SHORT VERSION

Ketanji Brown Jackson, born in Washington, D.C., in 1970, became the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States when she was sworn in on June 30, 2022. She is also the first former federal public defender on the Court.

Born in Washington, D.C., in 1970 and raised in Miami, the daughter of two public school teachers. Studied at Harvard and Harvard Law School.

THE PATH

Highlights.

01

First Black woman on the Supreme Court (2022)

02

First former federal public defender on the Court

03

Clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer, whose seat she filled

The portraits.

EVERY ARTIST →

The only name in this room so far.

§ QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK

When did Ketanji Brown Jackson join the Supreme Court?: She was sworn in on June 30, 2022.
Who did Ketanji Brown Jackson replace?: Justice Stephen Breyer, for whom she had clerked early in her career.
What was Ketanji Brown Jackson's background?: Harvard Law School, a clerkship with Justice Breyer, work as a federal public defender, and service as a federal judge.

She clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer, the seat she would one day take, and served as a federal public defender, the first former federal public defender to join the Court. She was a federal judge in Washington before her nomination.

THE FIRST

She was sworn in on June 30, 2022, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, in its two hundred and thirty-three years.