by “Even before today, I can honestly say that my life has been blessed beyond measure,” Jackson said Monday before expressing his gratitude and love for various members of his family.
Jackson met her husband, Patrick, in college and the two have been married for 25 years. They live in Washington, DC, with their daughters.
Dr. Patrick Jackson is a surgeon at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
As the Supreme Court nominee referenced her husband on Monday, he could be seen wiping tears from his eyes.
“I have no doubt that without him by my side from the very beginning of this incredible professional journey, none of this would have been possible,” she said.
Leila and Talia Jackson
Jackson’s daughters could be seen at Monday’s hearing, seated in the audience next to their father, Patrick. Leila Jackson wore a lavender costume while her older sister Talia Jackson wore a black print dress and a matching black mask.
Jackson addressed his daughters in his opening statement, saying, “Girls, I know it hasn’t been easy as I have tried to navigate the challenges of juggling my career and motherhood. And I fully admit that I haven’t always found the right balance. But I hope you’ve seen that with hard work, determination and love, it can be done. I can’t wait to see what each of you will choose to do with your incredible life in this incredible country.
Johnny and Ellery Brown
Johnny and Ellery Brown, Jackson’s parents, have been married for 54 years.
“When I was born here in Washington, my parents were public school teachers, and to express both pride in their heritage and hope for the future, they gave me an African name; ‘Ketanji Onyika ‘, which they were told meant ‘beautiful,'” Jackson recalled in his opening statement. “My parents taught me that unlike the many obstacles they faced growing up, my path was clearer, so that if I worked hard and believed in myself, in America, I could do anything. or be whatever I wanted to be.”
After Jackson was born, the family moved back to Miami so Johnny could earn his law degree from the University of Miami Law School.
Jackson credits his interest in law to his father, recalling in his opening remarks, “My earliest memories are of watching my father study — he had his stack of law books on the kitchen table while I sat across from him with my stack of coloring books.”
Ketajh Brown
There is a 10-year age gap between Jackson and his younger brother Ketajh, who was at Monday’s hearing sitting next to their parents.
After graduating from Howard University, Ketajh worked as an undercover narcotics recovery officer with the Baltimore City Police Department.
Following the September 11 attacks, Ketajh joined the Maryland National Guard, became an infantry officer, and was twice deployed to the Middle East.
Ketajh is currently a partner in the Chicago office of the law firm K&L Gates.
Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
On Monday, Jackson also gave a nod to his “large extended family,” which includes a notable DC politician: former Speaker of the House and longtime Republican Rep. Paul Ryan.
Ryan, who was a speaker from 2015 to 2019, is related to Brown by marriage. His sister-in-law, Dana, is married to Jackson’s brother-in-law, William.
