Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson quiet about first 2 years on high court

By 
 September 7, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson has been on a media tour for several weeks pushing her new book, and has quite a bit to say on most subjects, but not so much the high court. 

During a recent speech she gave on the Kennedy Center’s concert hall stage, Jackson told the audience that it was her mom who enrolled her in a public speaking program, among other stories.

According to USA Today, Jackson has appeared on multiple media outlets to push her new book, "Lovely One."

In her book, she details her journey to the high court bench and everything that happened in her personal life that eventually led to her nomination, but didn't say much of anything about her first two years on the Supreme Court.

What did she say?

Jackson opened up about her family life and how she initially hesitated over joining the high court due to the attention it had the potential to bring to her children, one of which was diagnosed with autism.

Her daughters ultimately gave approval, even writing letters to the White House urging the president to consider their mother for the distinguished position.

But when questioned about recent Supreme Court controversies, including the ethics push and the decision that gave former President Donald Trump immunity, Jackson diverted the subject.

USA Today noted:

Asked about the conservative majority’s recent opinion giving former President Donald Trump broad immunity for his actions while president, Jackson’s public criticism of that opinion has been much milder than the dissent she joined with the court’s two other liberal justices or the one she penned on her own.

Notably, Jackson declined to comment on whether or not she agrees with President Joe Biden's push to enact term limits on high court justices.

Obviously, as a new justice, she's definitely not going to be interested in that idea, though she didn't come right out and say it.

"I'm going to let the political process play out," Jackson told PBS News Hour. "People are engaged in this decision right now, and it will be interesting to see what we decide."

Perception problems

Recently, Jackson made headlines by noting that she believes the public's perception of the high court being too "political" is "problematic" for the once highly trusted institution.

"I think it’s problematic for the court that that's a perception that the public has. Because we really rely on public trust in order to do our jobs," Jackson told late night host Stephen Colbert.

Jackson is the youngest Supreme Court justice on the bench.

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson