News Release
U.S. Sentencing Commission
One Columbus Circle NE
Washington, DC 20002-8002
For Immediate Release
February 16, 2010
Contact: Michael Courlander
Public Affairs Officer
(202) 502-4597
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON TO SERVE AS VICE CHAIR
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Senate confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as a member of the United States Sentencing Commission on February 11, 2010, and President Barack Obama designated her a vice chair on February 12, 2010. President Obama nominated Ms. Jackson to serve on the Commission on July 23, 2009.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Ketanji Brown Jackson to serve on the Commission,” said Chief Judge William K. Sessions III, chair of the Commission. “Ms. Jackson brings with her many years of legal experience, and she will contribute significantly to the Commission’s work.”
Ms. Jackson currently is of counsel with the law firm of Morrison & Foerster LLP in Washington, D.C. From 2005-2007, Ms. Jackson served as an assistant federal public defender in the appeals division of the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Washington, D.C. From 2003-2005, she was an assistant special counsel to the United States Sentencing Commission. Prior to serving on the staff of the Commission, Ms. Jackson was an associate at The Feinberg Group, LLP (2002-2003); Goodwin Procter LLP (2000-2002); and Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, LLP (1998-1999). Ms. Jackson also served as a law clerk to three federal judges, including Associate Justice Stephen Breyer (October Term 1999).
Ms. Jackson graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1996 and magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1992.
The Commission’s six other voting members include Chief Judge William K. Sessions III of the District of Vermont (chair); Judge Ruben Castillo of the Northern District of Illinois (vice chair); Commissioner William B. Carr Jr. of Pennsylvania (vice chair); Chief Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa of the Southern District of Texas (member); Commissioner Beryl A. Howell of Washington, D.C. (member); and Dabney L. Friedrich of Maryland (member).
The United States Sentencing Commission, an independent agency in the judicial branch, was organized in 1985 to develop a national sentencing policy for the federal courts. The resulting sentencing guidelines structure the courts’ sentencing discretion to help ensure that similar offenders who commit similar offenses receive similar sentences.