Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson traded her judicial robes for a Shakespearean costume on Saturday, stepping on to Broadway’s stage for a one-night-only appearance in the modern take on Romeo and Juliet known as & Juliet.
In a performance with audiences cheering, Jackson took on a role written just for her, bringing a touch of the judiciary to the Great White Way in New York City. A viral video was shared by the & Juliet X account showing Jackson, clad in a green Renaissance-style gown, delivering her lines with gusto and declaring, “Female empowerment! … Sick!”
Justice served. pic.twitter.com/DeeYRvxQum
— & Juliet Broadway (@AndJulietBway) December 16, 2024
The justice, 54, described the experience as a long-held dream come true. “I had these two different loves: the law and theater,” she told CBS Mornings‘ Vladimir Duthiers in an interview that aired Monday. “Being the first black woman Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage … that has been a dream of mine for all of these years.”
& Juliet reimagines the classic tragedy by asking, “What if Juliet didn’t die?” The musical focuses on themes of independence and self-discovery, a narrative Jackson found particularly meaningful.
On Saturday night, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson fulfilled a childhood dream: making her Broadway debut.@vladduthiersCBS spoke with Justice Brown Jackson about taking on the one-time, walk-on role written specifically for her in @AndJulietBway: “I feel very much… pic.twitter.com/0MzZyPsCR1
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) December 16, 2024
“It’s a story about female empowerment and women’s ability to do what they want to do, to control their own destiny. I think it’s a wonderful message and obviously very fun,” she said.
Many Supreme Court justices have relished in their outside hobbies while serving on the highest bench. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer is an architecture enthusiast, while the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg adored opera, even making cameo appearances as Jackson did.
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Appearing before a sold-out crowd, Jackson relished the opportunity to showcase a different side of herself. “I think this moment reinforces for me that anything is possible,” she said, reflecting on her journey to the nation’s highest court — and now, the Broadway stage.
While the justice emphasized that she planned to keep focusing on her day job, the night underscored her belief in pursuing passions, no matter how unconventional. “We have dreams,” Jackson said.