Photos: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

In pictures: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

Updated 1650 GMT (0050 HKT) September 30, 2022

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Ketanji Brown Jackson made history in June when she was sworn in to become the first Black woman on the US Supreme Court.

She replaced Justice Stephen Breyer, who retired.

Jackson, 52, was nominated in February by President Joe Biden. She previously served on DC's federal appellate court, and she had been considered the front-runner for Breyer's seat after Breyer announced his retirement.

Jackson was born in the nation's capital but grew up in the Miami area. She was a member of the debate team at Miami Palmetto Senior High School before earning both her undergraduate degree and law degree at Harvard.

At her 2021 confirmation hearing for the appellate court, she connected her family's professions — her parents worked in public schools — to her decision to work as a public defender.

"I come from a background of public service. My parents were in public service, my brother was a police officer and (was) in the military," she said at the time, "and being in the public defenders' office felt very much like the opportunity to help with my skills and talents."

Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1985. She attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson poses for a high school yearbook photo in 1988, when she was class president.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson and Stephen Rosenthal, high school seniors, are pictured as "Hall of Fame" members in their 1988 yearbook. "I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment," Jackson said in the yearbook.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson was a member of the debate team at Miami Palmetto Senior High School before earning both her undergraduate degree and law degree at Harvard.
Miami Palmetto Senior High School
Jackson's yearbook photo at Harvard in 1992.
Harvard Yearbook Publications
Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer, left, administers the oath of office to US District Court judge Jackson in May 2013. Jackson's husband, Patrick Jackson, is holding the Bible.
Diego M. Radzinschi/The National Law Journal/ALM Media
From left, Judges Sri Srinivasan, David Tatel and Jackson walk into a ceremonial courtroom in 2017 during a high school mock trial in Washington, DC.
Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson listens to arguments as local high school students observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court case in 2019 at the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson, center, talks with local high school students who have come to observe a reenactment of a landmark Supreme Court in 2019. Also on the bench with her are Srinivasan, far left, and Tatel.
Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images
Jackson, left, and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi are sworn in during their Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, in April 2021. Jackson was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit and Jackson-Akiwumi was nominated to be US Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images
Jackson smiles as her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Leila, listen during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in April 2021.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Jackson is sworn in by Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals Sri Srinivasan in 2021. She is with her husband, Patrick.
Provided to CNN
Jackson works in her office in Washington, DC, in January 2022.
Erin Schaff/The New York Times/Redux
Jackson poses for a portrait in her office in Washington, DC, in February 2022.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Jackson speaks at the White House after President Joe Biden announced her as his nominee to the Supreme Court on February 25, 2022.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
Jackson meets with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as she begins her confirmation process on Capitol Hill in March 2022.
Stefani Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images
Jackson arrives for a meeting on Capitol Hill as she continued to meet with senators ahead of her confirmation hearings.
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Jackson is sworn in prior to her confirmation hearings in March 2022. Throughout her hearings, Jackson defended her experience and credentials as she faced criticisms from Republican senators on her judicial philosophy and legal record.
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Biden congratulates Jackson during her confirmation vote in April 2022. They watched the Senate vote from the Roosevelt Room in the White House.
Al Drago/The New York Times/Redux
Jackson reacts while speaking at a White House ceremony a day after her confirmation. During an emotional address, she spoke of the responsibility she will have as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. She also paid homage to those who paved the path for her along the way. "No one does this on their own," she said. "The path was cleared for me so that I might rise to this occasion."
Leigh Vogel/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Justice Stephen Breyer administers the Judicial Oath to Jackson as her husband, Patrick, holds the Bible in June 2022.
Fred Schilling/Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Jackson poses with other members of the Supreme Court as a formal investiture ceremony was held in September 2022. From left are Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jackson, Samuel Alito, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh.
Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States
Jackson and Roberts walk outside the Supreme Court, where they posed for photos after her investiture ceremony.
Carolyn Kaster/AP