Ketanji Brown Jackson Introduces Herself as A Force to Be Reckoned With

Insights from her first week as a Supreme Court Justice position Jackson as a powerful player in the Judicial Branch of the United States.

SCOTUS Significance

Today’s post is all about the powerful entry of one Ketanji Brown Jackson as the newest Supreme Court Justice. For that reason, we are going to pause for a moment to provide context in case any of our readers are unfamiliar with the Supreme Court of the United States, or why it is such a “big deal” to many people throughout the country and around the world.

The Supreme Court, established on September 24, 1789 is the “the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary (the judicial authorities of a country) specifically required by the Constitution.” (The White House) At present, there are nine Supreme Court Justices, including John G. Roberts Jr. (Chief Justice of the United States), Clarence Thomas (Associate Justice), Samuel A. Alito Jr. (Associate Justice), Sonia Sotomayor (Associate Justice), Elena Kagan (Associate Justice), Neil M. Gorsuch (Associate Justice), Brett M. Kavanaugh (Associate Justice), Amy Coney Barrett (Associate Justice), and Ketanji Brown Jackson (Associate Justice).

In order to become a Supreme Court Justice, you must be appointed by the President of the United States, and confirmed by Congress. Supreme Court Justices are granted a life term, and are expected to serve until they die, retire, or find themselves impeached and convicted.

Merrill vs. Milligan//Voting Rights

Just last week, the Supreme Court took a moment to hear the Merrill vs. Milligan case, which narrows its focus on “how much those who draw electoral districts should be required to consider race.” (The Guardian) 

During the hearing, the solicitor general for Alabama, Edmund LaCour argued that the layout of his state’s congressional map was not in discrimination against voting citizens who are Black. And when the plaintiffs of the case illustrated the feasibility of redrawing the map to include two majority-Black districts instead of one, LaCour insisted that doing so would require the mapmaker to go to dramatic lengths to consider race – which he believed to be at conflict with the provision of the 14th amendment of the US Constitution.

In response to LaCour’s argument, Ketanji Brown Jackson took about five minutes to refocus the court’s understanding of the 14th amendment, which was created to protect each citizen’s right to fair treatment under the law, regardless of the colour of their skin. An article published to The Guardian captured the perspective of court observers on this interaction:

““I think it’s really clear she’s just going to be a force to be reckoned with,” said Leah Litman, a law professor at the University of Michigan. “Both in questioning positions that she’s skeptical of, but also in providing support for lawyers when they’re being subject to hostile questioning.”” (The Guardian)

“I don’t think that the historical record establishes that the founders believed race neutrality or race blindness was required,” said Jackson, in response to LaCour. “It was drafted to give a foundational, a constitutional foundation for a piece of legislation that was designed to make people who had less opportunity and less rights equal to white citizens… I’m trying to understand why that violates the 14th amendment given the history and background of the 14th amendment.”

Universal Core Competencies on Display

Our takeaways from what we’ve seen and read in the last week as Ketanji Brown Jackson has officially taken her seat and gotten to work as the newest Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of the United States are many. Still, we are compelled to examine the resolve and the authority displayed by Jackson in her response to the solicitor general. Here are three universal core competencies we saw on display from the Associate Justice, accompanied by their definitions.

Respect for Policies

One's capacity for honouring an established set of rules and guidelines, especially in a professional, academic, religious or governmental setting.

Jackson’s response was one that brought attention to the 14th amendment, which was pushed in LaCour’s argument as being dismissed at the notion of restructuring Alabama’s congressional map in the way that was illustrated by the plaintiffs in the Merrill vs. Milligan case. She focused on bringing attention to the context and the intention of the amendment, which was introduced in the 19th century.

Traditional/Regulatory Drive

One's capacity for feeling and adhering to a compulsion to achieve or accomplish something related to principle.

Again, Jackson’s response illustrated that she is focused on honouring the principle of the laws and the US Constitution. Inasmuch, her aim to find clarity in LaCour’s argument was presented through this lens.

Balanced Decision Making

One's capacity for objectively evaluating available options against desired objectives and potential outcomes, and selecting a course of action with confidence and resolve.

During the course of the hearing of this case, there were many notes and perspectives introduced and addressed. In the moments where Justice Jackson chose to speak, she was very intentional with the direction she chose, carefully considering the desired outcome of what she was presented to work with.

Who is someone who has inspired you recently? What was it that they said or did that you found encouraging or otherwise noteworthy? What are some of the universal core competencies that they displayed with their words or actions? Hopefully you can continue to identify the north stars in your everyday life, and use them to propel you towards your purpose, your passions and your dreams.

Until next time…

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