Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is set to embark on a national tour promoting her new memoir, “Lovely One,” which details her family’s journey from segregation to her confirmation as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. The book highlights her experiences as a public defender, a woman of color, and a mother navigating a demanding legal career and family life. Jackson has been an active participant in court sessions since joining the Supreme Court in 2022, often taking a liberal approach to interpreting the Constitution.
Jackson’s book tour will kick off at the iconic Apollo Theater in New York on the same day as the book’s publication. She is set to make stops at various entertainment venues in major cities like Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, and San Francisco during the first week of her tour. Jackson received a substantial advance of nearly $900,000 from Random House for her memoir, following in the footsteps of fellow justices Clarence Thomas and Sonia Sotomayor, who received million-dollar advances for their memoirs.
Criticism has been raised regarding the lack of accountability and enforcement mechanisms for the Supreme Court justices in terms of outside income, including income from book deals. While the court adopted a code of conduct last year, it does not include specific limits on income from book royalties. Justice Sotomayor’s court staff was previously involved in organizing speaking engagements to sell her books, raising concerns about the ethics of such practices. Jackson has expressed support for an enforceable code of ethics and is open to considering proposals for enforcement mechanisms.
President Joe Biden has proposed an enforceable code of ethics for Supreme Court justices to ensure accountability and transparency in their outside income activities. Jackson began working on her memoir shortly after joining the court, and the title, “Lovely One,” reflects her given middle name, Ketanji Onyika. She credits her parents for instilling in her a love for the law at a young age and has a family background in law and education. Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Amy Coney Barrett are also involved in writing and promoting their own books, receiving substantial advances for their literary endeavors.
As Jackson and her fellow justices navigate the world of book tours and memoir writing, questions about ethics, accountability, and transparency continue to be raised. The Supreme Court’s lack of specific limits on outside income from book deals and speaking engagements has drawn scrutiny from critics, prompting calls for enforceable codes of conduct. Jackson’s memoir offers readers an insight into her personal journey and her vision for the promise of America, as she takes on her historic role on the nation’s highest court.
