Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's Stunning Style Transformation

When we think Supreme Court and style, one item usually comes to mind, and that is a black robe. (The same goes for clergy members and Hogwarts staff, if anyone is keeping tabs.) But justices are human, too, which means they may have some fashion flair hidden beneath their courtroom workwear. There actually isn't a rule or law stating that judges have to wear a black robe; it's simply tradition. And most likely, none of them are willing to rock the boat and draw attention to themselves for their fashion choices. 

If there were one justice that we could see putting their own creative spin on corporate workwear, however, it would be Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who turned 55 in September 2025. Though her style transformation has toned down since she became the first Black woman appointed to America's highest court in 2022, she's shown an affinity for colorful clothes through the years. Nowadays, her style choices are measured and intentional, but we have a feeling that if she weren't in such an esteemed position, her current fashion would have a bit more wow factor to it.

Ketanji Brown was raised in Miami, where her mom was a school principal and her dad was a lawyer; both instilled a strong work ethic in her. She was senior class president, and by all accounts, a top student at Miami Palmetto Senior High, where she graduated in 1988. In photos from her high school yearbook shared on Instagram, the future lawyer already showed a penchant for fashion, including chunky earrings that were all the rage in the '80s and have staged a comeback in the 2020s.

Another look that she rocked well was the oversized belt, which can bring a laid-back Y2K style to any outfit. She cinched hers over a white button down. The Harvard student — she attended the Ivy-league college for both undergrad and law school, finishing in 1996 — was also ahead of her time by pairing denim on denim with white overalls and a blue jean jacket.

The same year that she graduated from Harvard Law, she also married beau Patrick Jackson. The two would go on to have two daughters, Talia and Leila. After law school, Ketanji held three federal clerkships and also worked in private practice. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama appointed her to the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C. For the swearing-in ceremony, she wore a tan skirt suit. But it was far from basic. The skirt featured ruffled tiers and she paired the look with stiletto peep-toe slingbacks.

Earlier photos from her career, including one posted to Instagram, show the future justice in a navy suit with added gold embellishments to coordinate with her blazer button. The yellow-gold touches included her blouse, jewelry and a pocket square. We don't know the exact year of this pic, but the matchy-matchy screams '90s business attire.

In 2022, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made history when then-President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court. Since her time at the high court, she's called out President Donald Trump as well as sided with him, proving that she's motivated by the word of the law, not strictly by political lines.

Style-wise, she's fallen into a groove of wearing business suits, often in bold colors, including purple at the Atlantic Festival in September 2024, red at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans in July 2025, and yellow at a talk she gave in California in October 2025. If she has worn black, she's given it a little something-something by adding color beneath, including a gold pussy-bow blouse she wore to meet Senate leaders in March 2022. And even if she's in her black robe, she's been able to use fashion as a voice. She put the statement in statement necklace and earrings by wearing cowrie shell jewelry to Trump's inauguration in January 2025. Cowrie shells are popular in West Africa, where they have a multitude of uses, including for healing and spiritual purposes. So the justice's choice of accessory honored her heritage, making it the perfect adornment for her inaugural look.