Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Assumed office
March 26, 2013
Appointed by Barack Obama
Preceded by Henry Kennedy
Personal details
Born Ketanji Onyika Brown
September 1970 (age 46)
Washington D.C., U.S.
Spouse(s) Patrick G. Jackson (m. 1996; 2 children)
Alma mater Harvard University

Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson (born September 1970) is a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. An in-law of the current U.S. Speaker of the House, she is considered a member of Barack Obama's short list for the Supreme Court to replace Antonin Scalia.

Early life and education

Ketanji Onyika Jackson (née Brown) was born in Washington, D.C.[1] Her parents Johnny and Elorie(sp) Brown,[2] an attorney, and retired school principle.[3] Jackson graduated from Miami Palmetto High School in 1988,[4] where her parents still reside. The Judge earned a bachelor's degree magna cum laude in government in 1992 and a J.D. degree cum laude in 1996 from from Harvard University and Harvard Law School.[5]

Jackson has served as a law clerk for three federal judges, including United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts Judge Patti B. Saris and United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Judge Bruce M. Selya. She clerked for Associate Justice Stephen Breyer of the United States Supreme Court from 1999 until 2000.

Jackson worked in private legal practice from 1998 until 1999 and again from 2000 until 2003.[6] From 2003 until 2005, she remained in private practice as an attorney at the Feinberg Group law firm,[1] and she also served as an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission.[6] From 2005 until 2007, Jackson served as an assistant federal public defender in the District of Columbia.[6] From 2007 to 2013, Jackson worked at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster.[6]

Appointment to the United States Sentencing Commission

Ketanji Brown Jackson Vice of Commission (2010-2014)

On July 23, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Jackson to a part-time position as one of the seven voting members on the United States Sentencing Commission.[7] The United States Senate confirmed Jackson by unanimous consent on February 11, 2010. She succeeded Michael Horowitz, who served from 2003 until 2009. Jackson served on the United States Sentencing Commission until 2014.[8]

District Court service

On September 20, 2012, President Obama nominated Jackson to serve as a United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, to the seat vacated by Judge Henry H. Kennedy, Jr. who retired on November 18, 2011.[9] On January 2, 2013, her nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate.

On January 3, 2013, she was renominated to the same office. On February 14, 2013, her nomination was reported to the full Senate by voice vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[10] She was confirmed by voice vote on the legislative day of March 22, 2013. She received her commission on March 26, 2013.

Possible appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court

On February 26, 2016, the National Law Journal reported that Obama administration officials were vetting Jackson as a potential nominee to the United States Supreme Court by President Barack Obama.[11] The Washington Post reported the same in March.[12]

Personal

Jackson married Patrick G. Jackson in 1996. They have two daughters.

Jackson is related by marriage to United States House Speaker Paul Ryan.[13] Jackson's husband is the twin brother of Ryan's brother-in-law.[13]

References

Legal offices
Preceded by
Henry Kennedy		 Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
2013–present 		Incumbent
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