During a Candid Conversation on Michelle Obama’s Podcast, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Discussed Security, Public Scrutiny and Her Supreme Court Dream
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says serving on the nation’s highest court has surpassed her expectations, but the historic position has also brought an unexpected personal cost: the loss of an ordinary, unrestricted life.
During a recent appearance on Michelle Obama’s “IMO” podcast, Jackson explained that the heightened security surrounding her role has forced her to change how she moves through the world.
Ketanji Brown Jackson Adjusts to Life Under Constant Security
“I think the thing that has been most startling, in a way, is the need for security in a way that you didn’t have before that I had never experienced,” Jackson said about an hour into the conversation.
“It has meant really having to adjust my life. I can’t just go out in any meaningful way as I used to. And that can be a downside, just not being able to live a normal life. I know you know what it’s like to feel confined.”
Obama, who experienced similar security restrictions as first lady, understood the sense of isolation that can accompany a highly visible public-service role.
Although Jackson acknowledged the limitations, she emphasized that she considers it a privilege to serve the American people. She said her experience on the Supreme Court has exceeded what she imagined before joining the bench.
Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court after her confirmation in 2022. Obama also made history as the nation’s first Black first lady. Both women earned law degrees from Harvard University and have spent much of their careers navigating institutions where few Black women had previously reached their level of influence.
Jackson Found Community and Sisterhood at Harvard
The conversation also explored Jackson’s upbringing, marriage and years at Harvard, where she said a strong community of Black students helped her find her voice.
“I roomed with five other Black women,” Jackson said. “There were six of us on campus, and then we were within this larger community. And it was just amazing. I found my people.”
Jackson also recalled meeting her husband, Patrick Jackson, who was her first boyfriend, and growing up in Florida as the daughter of a father who attended law school.
Her interest in the Supreme Court began long before she became a federal judge. Jackson revealed that she wrote about her judicial ambitions in her Harvard application essay, although the goal included a theatrical twist.
“When I applied to college,” Jackson said, “I wrote in my essay to Harvard that you really have to accept me because I would like to be the … I think it will help me with my dream of being the first Black female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage. That was the line.”
Jackson eventually accomplished both goals. After joining the Supreme Court, she appeared in a one-night-only walk-on role in the Broadway musical “& Juliet” in 2024.
Michelle Obama Offers Advice on Public Service and Scrutiny
The women also discussed the responsibilities that come with public service, including the need to limit exposure to unreliable information and public controversies.
“You never want to come off as not grateful for service,” Obama said. “Especially people like us who were raised to be public servants. You also have to watch your exposure to things so that there isn’t a bias.”
Jackson agreed that judges must be especially cautious about news consumption, political debates and public commentary.
“It’s a whole different world and not everything is reliable,” Jackson said. “And the hardest part for judges is that we really cannot participate.”
Obama responded with a joke about the possible benefits of staying removed from the constant media cycle.
“Probably saving you some brain cells, too,” Obama said. “We need you focused on your opinions.”
Despite the security restrictions and intense public attention, Jackson said serving on the Supreme Court remains the highest honor of her professional life.
