Jackson was honored to return to government work as a commissioner for the US Sentencing Commission. She had to update the Guidelines Manual to reflect the new law, the Fair Sentencing Act, which was passed in 2010. This law was passed to address the disproportionate punishments given to crack cocaine users compared to powder cocaine users, despite the drug itself being the same. Jackson and her colleagues decided that it was fairer for the new law to apply retroactively as well and to lighten the sentences of those already incarcerated for crack cocaine possession. However, Congress disagreed. Jackson presented her opinion to the Commission, noting how unfair the original sentencing guidelines had been and advising them to allow each person convicted under the old laws to apply for a reduced sentence. Jackson privately worried that taking such a stand would make her unpopular and ruin her chances of becoming a judge.

She was reassured when Federal Judge Paul Friedman, an acquaintance, called her and advised her to apply for a position as a federal judge, assuring her that she would have his support. Jackson was flattered but unsure, as it would require her family to buy a new home in the District of Columbia. Jackson’s husband and father persuaded her to pursue this incredible opportunity, and she passed the first two interviews. That was only the beginning: Jackson and her references were interviewed by the Justice Department and FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) investigators, she was medically examined, and her academic record was scrutinized.

As the months passed, Jackson became more excited about the possibility of her nomination. However, she knew that if President Obama lost the upcoming election, she would have no chance. Fortunately for her, Obama won a second term, and she was confirmed as a new federal judge the following spring. Jackson was moved that her husband had gone out of his way to restore his family’s Bible so that she could use it for her swearing in. She was also honored to have her parents, children, close friends, and mentors present at the ceremony, and she gave them an emotional thank you for their support and encouragement. Jackson was saddened that her aunt Carolynn, who was dying of lung cancer, could not attend, but her mother, Ellery, told Carolynn all about it in the hospital. Reflecting on all the love and support that made her journey possible, Jackson concludes that “[i]t takes a village to raise a judge” (330).

As the Jacksons pursued their equally demanding careers, they relied on au pairs to help with their children. The work-life juggle was often stressful, and they came to develop a strong friendship with other parents in their daughter’s school; they all benefited from their mutual support. Jackson recognized that their daughters had different needs and that their relationship was strained by their different experiences. Talia struggled to form lasting friendships and excel at school, and she often felt left out. Meanwhile, Leila enjoyed academics and her friends but felt overlooked since Talia received a lot of parental attention. While Jackson wanted to be there more for her daughters, her federal judge work took up most of her time. Her new job required her to dive into aspects of the law that were less familiar to her. Jackson recognizes that being a Black woman in such a position made her extremely conscious of her performance, and rather than taking her lifetime appointment for granted, she completely dedicated herself to the job. While Jackson found her new appointment to be incredibly demanding, she admits that she found it “exhilarating” and felt satisfied that she was “living [her] dream” (342).

During President Obama’s second term, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died suddenly, leaving a vacancy in the court. Jackson’s daughter Leila, then 11 years old, was convinced that her mother would be perfect for the job and wrote a letter to the president telling him so. Jackson was moved by her daughter’s gesture and surprised that she had such an interest in her work.

Jackson was surprised to later learn that her name was being floated as a potential addition to the court, but ultimately, Obama chose Merrick Garland. As it turned out, Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow his nomination to progress, and soon the new president, Donald Trump, was responsible for nominating three new Supreme Court justices.

During this time, still working as a federal judge, Jackson ruled on several high-profile cases, sometimes barring the Trump government from certain actions, such as trying to deport immigrants without following the federal legal process for doing so. In one particularly publicized case, Jackson ruled that Congress had the right to subpoena former White House counsel Donald McGahn. This ruling rejected the notion that the president and their counsel have “absolute immunity” from investigation or prosecution.

While trial judges are the “first responders” of the legal world, appeal judges reflect on trial judges’ decisions and sometimes offer different judgments. Jackson shares that her judgments as a trial judge weighed heavily on her, yet she continued to aspire to yet another promotion: to the Supreme Court.

Jackson was overcome with pride as her eldest daughter, Talia, graduated from high school. After some travels, Talia planned to attend a liberal arts college nearby. Jackson was pleased that she was finally “thriving” in her social and academic life. Her joy was short-lived, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic threw their lives into disarray. Her daughters had to attend classes online, and Jackson held court proceedings by video call.

Meanwhile, her husband worked at the hospital, which was overrun with pandemic patients. Jackson closely followed the news at this time, especially the presidential election in which Joe Biden was elected president. She was disturbed by the violence of the “Stop the Steal” riots in support of President Trump and was relieved when lawmakers were able to resume their work and certify Biden’s election victory.

Shortly after his election, Biden nominated her to the US Court of Appeals, and Jackson hoped that this new position would give her a better chance of being chosen for a Supreme Court position. In the meantime, she committed herself to continued excellence at her new job.

When Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement from the Supreme Court, his vacant position provided President Biden with a chance to fulfill his promise of nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Jackson was excited and anxious to learn that the White House was considering her as a nominee. When the media caught wind of this news, Jackson and her family found themselves in the spotlight. Jackson worried for her daughters during this process, as their family was dissected and commentated on. She and her husband asked their daughters how they felt about the possibility of her sitting on the Supreme Court, and both Talia and Leila were enthusiastic about the idea. Jackson was amazed at her daughters’ support and maturity, and she was grateful for their willingness to cope with the spotlight for their mother’s sake.

Over the coming weeks, Jackson worked with her staff to compile all the documentation and references she needed for her nomination. She was overwhelmed when President Biden called her and informed her that he was “honored” to nominate her to the Supreme Court (370).

With the support of her high school friends Stephen and Patrick, who had come to her home to celebrate her nomination, Jackson began writing her speech. The friends worked through notes and drafts before dissolving into tears at the thought of their old teacher Mrs. Berger and what she would think if she could see them all now.

With her confirmation hearing now looming, Jackson underwent days of preparation, practicing her responses with White House counsel. She knew that she would be asked challenging questions, especially by those who opposed her nomination, and resolved to remain calm. At the hearing, some committee members returned repeatedly to the matter of Jackson’s “judicial philosophy” (373), and she explained that she was as neutral as possible in her decision-making and abided by the law and its precedents in her rulings. During these stressful moments, Jackson felt buoyed by the love and support of her family. She was also moved by Senator Cory Booker’s kind words, as he recognized the significance of her confirmation to the country’s Black citizens and affirmed her as a “great American” (375).

Jackson was overjoyed to be successfully confirmed, and in her speeches afterward, she reflected on how in one generation, her family had gone “from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States” (377). She also credited Judge Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge, with being her “North Star” and showing her that her ambitions were possible (378). She knows that, like Motley, she will also experience disappointments and that her hard work will not always be appreciated, but nonetheless, she is ready to make her contribution to justice in America.

Jackson argues that it is essential to the health of American society and culture that the nation’s government and top courts represent the diversity of its people. She was intrigued by a version of the play 1776 in which America’s founders were played by female, transgender, and non-binary actors. For Jackson, the performance reaffirmed to her that all Americans must play a role in deciding the nation’s future and that no one should be excluded, as so many once were. Another stage show, American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words, reminded Jackson that every aspect of American history is important since the country is “a vibrant and beautiful tapestry” that includes so many different people (384). The author shares her gratitude at being able to serve her country by interpreting its laws and ensuring that its constitution is respected. She credits her family and her passion for the arts with allowing her to excel at her job while enjoying life to the fullest.