Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has opened up about her experiences during the confirmation process and her journey to the highest court in her new memoir, “Lovely One.” In an interview with NPR, she reflects on the challenges she faced, describing the confirmation hearings as “treacherous.” Jackson emphasizes her pride in being the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court and believes the court still has a crucial role in addressing significant national issues, despite ongoing public skepticism.
In the interview, Jackson advocates for binding ethics rules for justices, as the current voluntary guidelines adopted last year do not impose strict obligations. She acknowledges that while the court has recently implemented ethics rules reminiscent of those for lower courts, she sees no justification for the absence of mandatory regulations.
Jackson also discusses personal aspects of her life, including her struggles with parenthood, specifically sharing insights about her eldest daughter’s autism diagnosis—a detail the family had not publicly revealed before. She explains that her daughter’s support encouraged her to be open about this part of their lives as she pursued her role on the Supreme Court.
Additionally, Jackson addresses the challenges of navigating professional appearances, particularly regarding her hair. She describes her decision to embrace sisterlocks as a practical choice arising from her desire to free herself from the time-consuming traditional hair care routines.
In a heartfelt moment, Jackson reflects on her late grandmother’s influence and dedication to her success, expressing confidence that her grandmother would be immensely proud of her achievements so far.