Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Other Black 21st Century Jurists: Their Paths to the Bench and the Implications of Their Presence

In 2022, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court. Black jurists who helped pave the way for her historic appointment include Jane Bolin, Constance Baker Motley, and Thurgood Marshall. Justice Jackson is but one of more than one thousand Black jurists in the United States. This talk will focus on some of these Black judges/justices, highlighting their pathways to the bench and the meaning of their presence for the legal system, the courts, Black Americans, and justice.