Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is set to kick off a nationwide tour to promote her memoir titled “Lovely One.” The book, published by Random House, delves into her family’s journey from segregation to her historic confirmation as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. In a recent TV interview, Jackson described it as a story that embodies the promise of America.
At 53 years old, Jackson is not only the first Black woman on the nation’s highest court but also the first public defender to serve as a justice. The memoir sheds light on her experiences navigating the legal profession as a woman of color and a mother balancing career and family life. Since joining the court in June 2022, Jackson has been highly active in the argument sessions, often approaching the Constitution from a liberal perspective despite originalism being more commonly associated with conservative justices.
Her book tour begins at New York’s Apollo Theater on the day of the book’s release, followed by stops at major entertainment venues in Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, and San Francisco. According to reports, Jackson received an advance of nearly $900,000 from Random House last year, aligning her with colleagues Justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor, who received advances of over a million dollars for their memoirs.
The Supreme Court previously faced criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy donors to some justices, prompting the adoption of its first code of conduct last year. The code lacks enforcement mechanisms and imposes no restrictions on justices’ income from book royalties. Jackson expressed openness to supporting an enforceable code of ethics aligned with President Joe Biden’s proposal, emphasizing the need for ethical standards across the judiciary.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Miami, Jackson’s interest in law stemmed from her father, who was an attorney, and conversations they shared during his law school days. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett also have forthcoming books, reflecting a trend among Supreme Court justices to share their experiences and perspectives through memoirs.
