From Segregation to Supreme Court

Credit The Wall Street Journal

Born in Washington DC Ketanji Brown Jackson whose family faced racial segregation in the not so distant past was elevated as the first African American woman Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court last year. The 52 year old joins the apex US Court around the same time it issued a highly controversial ruling ending women constitutional right to abortion. As a women Jackson had to delicately navigate the double jeopardy of racism and sexism common in US public office.

Contentious  Senate Hearing

Credit CNN

The Senate Judiciary Committee had been aggressive and hostile as she was accused of a lenient sentencing record for child pornography cases and she was voted by a narrow margin of 53-47.

Sworn in

In the US Supreme Court’s 232 years history and 115 prior appointments it is for the first time that a Black woman has been selected as a judge.

Credit Smithsonian Magazine

Justice Jackson is one of few judges who have gone through the judicial grind. She has an enviable judicial record as she has worked in a federal public defender’s office , confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and later appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which is significant being the country’s second highest court entrusted with interpreting the constitution .