U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will visit Portland March 12, 2026, as part of the Everybody Reads 2026 reading project sponsored by the Multnomah County Library system.
Jackson will appear at a yet-to-be-announced public event to speak about her book, Lovely One: A Memoir, the subject of the library’s upcoming community reading project. It will conclude months of library programs and events surrounding the memoir and its themes.
Jackson’s appearance undoubtedly will make news. She is the most outspoken member of the U.S. Supreme Court in her opposition to many of the Trump Administration’s policies and executive orders.
Previous Portland appearances by Supreme Court justices have generated headlines. They include: a 2007 visit by Justice Antonin Scalia, who told an audience at the University of Portland that the American judiciary in the second half of the 20th century preferred non-religion to religious freedom; a 2019 appearance by Justice Sonia Sotomayor during which she urged children to feel free to be different; and a 2023 talk by Justice Elana Kagan in which she supported an ethics code for the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to the Library, Lovely One is Justice Jackson’s intimate reflection of her family’s heritage through segregation and her own path as the first Black woman to be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The book explores identity, ambition, and resilience, highlighting the importance of mentorship and perseverance through professional and personal challenges.
“Lovely One offers us a powerful story of identity and resilience, and a shared foundation for listening and reflection,” said Annie Lewis, director of county libraries. “Justice Jackson’s moving account of her accomplished life and her family’s legacy provides a rich backdrop for conversations about justice and injustice; what we gain from and give to one another; and persistence in pursuit of a dream.”
Readers can pick up a free copy of Lovely One from local libraries beginning in January. There will be 8,000 available.
This year marks the 24th anniversary of Everybody Reads, the library system’s community-wide reading program.
