Justice Jackson's Journey
to the U.S. Supreme Court
A TRUE TALE WITH
A CHERRY ON TOP
Quill Tree Books
(Harper Collins)
(pub.6.20.2023) 40 pages
Author: Kekla Magoon
Illustrator: Laura Freeman
Character: Ketanji Jackson
Overview:
" Ketanji Brown Jackson is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. When a high school guidance counselor told her she should set her sights lower than Harvard, she decided to go to Harvard for college and law school.
When she became a public defender and saw inequalities in the justice system, she used her legal skills to advocate for people who needed help, but couldn’t afford an attorney.
Ketanji’s path to the Supreme Court was unique: She’s the only current Justice to have been a public defender and one of a few who went to public school.
Her story is powerful and heartening, and it’s a lesson in overcoming adversity by being true to yourself."
Tantalizing taste:
" When she accepted the confirmation, she said, 'It has taken two hundred and thirty-two years ... but we've made it.' She added, 'Our children are telling me that they see now, more than ever, that her in America, anything is possible.'
Today, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's star shines as brightly as ever, and now the whole world can see her light."
And something more: Kekla Magoon, in the Author's Note explains that "Leila's [Ketanji's daughter's] letter to President Obama was probably not the main thing that put Judge Jackson on the short list for the Supreme Court – her judicial record would've taken care of that in time – but it is still a great example of a young person being strong and speaking up, sharing their opinion with a person in power. It is not always easy to speak up about the things that are most important to us, but telling elected officials what we think is best for our country is an important part of citizenship, no matter how old or young we are."
Comments