Her faith shaped her life.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recently emphasized the pivotal role her Christian faith has played in her life during an appearance at the 144th Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention in Baltimore. This event coincided with the release of her memoir, Lovely One. Jackson, who has been on the Supreme Court since 2022, reflected on how her faith has supported her both professionally and personally.
Jackson recounted how her faith was integral to her journey to the Supreme Court, highlighting that her first public acknowledgment after President Joe Biden’s nomination was a thank-you to God for guiding her career. She recalled that her grandmother’s influence, particularly their shared church experiences, deeply impacted her. Jackson fondly remembered her grandmother’s routine testimony during church services, which she often recited by heart.
During her speech, Jackson shared a Bible verse frequently cited by her grandmother: “To whom much is given, much is required,” from Luke 12:48. She explained how this principle has guided her throughout her life, encouraging her to work hard, remain kind, and uphold faith in achieving her aspirations. These values have been essential to her personal and professional success.
Jackson’s memoir, Lovely One, released earlier this week, chronicles her family’s journey from segregation to her historic appointment to the Supreme Court. The book’s title reflects the meaning of her name, Ketanji Onyika, which translates to “Lovely One.” Her appearance at the National Baptist Convention continues her engagement with faith-based communities, following her previous remarks at a ceremony commemorating the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham.
This Jackson lady is a keeper – Just like saying that Mr Thomas has ALWAYS been a reject, just like Mr. Trump. And if we are talking about rejects, we can include Ms. Soomayor on that score. She has always had such a chip on her shoulder (because she is from Puerto Rico), it is hard to deny that she is a racist – against anyone that is not Latino. Those two (Sotomayor and Thomas) don’t deserve to be there. I had a case in Sotomayor’s court when she was a district court judge in the 1990s. She has always been a dud academically / intelllectually – and she is not well-liked by her fellow judges, a either the district court level or at the circuit court before she was nominated to the SCOTUS. They (Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas) both were nominated and confirmed solely based on their race, even though the American Bar Association and everybody else said that they were not qualified for the job. As for Mr Thomas, we are just now finding out the depth of his lack of character. He is a liar and a thief – and he gets uglier every day.
That’s my verse too. Live by it. Always comes back from the back of my mind.