Ketanji Brown Jackson

“I have faith, my extraordinary family and cherished friends.”

“I decide cases from a neutral posture.”

“It is very stressful to have to decide difficult cases in the spotlight and under pressure.”

“I stand on the shoulders of so many who have come before me, including Judge Constance Baker Motley, who was the first African American woman to be appointed to the federal bench and with whom I share a birthday.”

“The first of my many blessings is the fact that I was born in this great nation, a little over 50 years ago.”

“You never know what cases are going to become significant and the Supreme Court is part of that story.”

“I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.”

“There are actually many justices in history who have used the dissent mechanism to discuss the law in ways that others find over time to be more persuasive.”

“What I know is that the Supreme Court has tests and standards that it's applied when it evaluates regulation of the right of a woman to terminate their pregnancy.”

“If you are diligent and well prepared, relentlessly optimistic, and resolute in purpose, you will be capable of creating a brilliant future for yourself.”

“I was concerned about a system that appeared to provide immunity for one individual under one set of circumstances. When we have a criminal justice system that had, ordinarily, treated everyone the same.”

“Federal public defenders don't get to pick their clients. They have to represent whoever comes in. And it's a service.”

“I am very warm and open with my staff. I have a small group that works directly for me, my law clerks and my assistants, and we do fun things together. I try to be a nurturer in that sense. But I also ensure that we are doing the work necessary to lay out my opinions in a clear and thorough fashion.”

“Critical race theory - any academic theory - is not considered in my sentencing. It never comes up in sentencing.”

“To my time at Harvard Law School and the many professional experiences that I've been blessed to have since graduation: Thank you.”

“I've experienced life in perhaps a different way than some of my colleagues because of who I am, and that might be valuable.”

“I'm looking at the arguments, the facts and the law. I'm methodically and intentionally setting aside personal views, any other inappropriate considerations and I would think that race would be the kind of thing that would be inappropriate to inject in my evaluation of a case.”

“I have had the privilege of working alongside people who have a variety of viewpoints about the law and legal analysis throughout my professional career.”

“I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.”

“We have to own even the darkest parts of our past, understand them and vow never to repeat them.”