Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s first date was with the man who would become her husband — but she didn’t even know it was a date, at first.
She recalled the date in a conversation with Michelle Obama and the former first lady’s podcast, “IMO.”
Justice Jackson and her future husband, Patrick Jackson, were students at Harvard University at the time. She recalled that he picked her up and they went for a walk, but she said it wasn’t clear it was a date.
“I’ve never been on one. I hoped so because he was cute,” she recalled. But the future surgeon didn’t make a move, so she became “furious.”
They later had dinner at his home and watched a movie, and he tried to put his arm around her.
SEE ALSO: ‘I don’t work for the Senate’: Tuberville breaks from GOP talking points on election bill
“I jump up and I say, ’No,’ because I had convinced myself that he didn’t like me,” Justice Jackson, 55, told Mrs. Obama.
“I figured he had a whole day to show some affection. He had not done so, and so he was now just trying to take advantage of me as far as I was concerned,” she said. “I thought, ’This is crazy,’ so I jumped up and I said, ’No,’ and he said, ’What is wrong?’ and he stood up, and I said, ’I just don’t want to be hurt,’ and he said, ’Ketanji, I will never hurt you; I love you.’”
The movie they watched was “Sea of Love” with Al Pacino.
The couple celebrated their 30th anniversary this year.
Contact the author
Please read our comment policy before commenting.