The SCOTUS Justice I’d Like to Meet and Case I’d Overturn

If you were in my office, you’d … find vibrant colors, Afrocentric artwork, and a warm space designed to encourage spontaneous visits and open conversation.

My colleagues would be surprised to know that … one of my lifelong passions is spoken word poetry. I began writing in middle school, was part of a spoken word poetry collective in college, and had the honor of performing at an event in early 2023 that featured the iconic June Ambrose. While I don’t write as often these days, I try to stay connected to the art form since it remains a creative outlet that has deeply shaped how I communicate, reflect and connect with others.

The lawyer I most admire is … Michelle Alexander. Through her groundbreaking book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, she brought national attention to the racial injustices embedded in the U.S. criminal legal system, making complex legal and historical realities accessible without sacrificing their nuance. At a pivotal time in America’s growing conversation about race and justice, she gave voice to truths that had long been silenced and empowered a broader public to understand mass incarceration as a racial caste system.

The quality I most like in a lawyer is … the ability to balance excellence with humility. 

When I started, I wish I knew … that networking is just as important as skill. 

My career high point (so far) has been … going to trial in Louisiana last year during a secondment with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. We represented students and families in a school desegregation case challenging a school district with a deeply entrenched history of racial segregation. It was an honor to stand alongside those fighting for equal educational opportunities and justice.

The SCOTUS justice I’d most like to meet is … Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. As the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, she brings a profound civil rights background and a career rooted in public service, including her time as a federal public defender and vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Her commitment to justice, sharp legal mind, and thoughtful voice on the bench make her an inspiring figure in American law.

The SCOTUS decision I’d most like to overturn is … Bush v. Gore. Although the majority emphasized that the ruling was meant to apply only to the unique circumstances of the 2000 election, its reasoning—particularly around equal protection—has since been cited in other voting rights and election law cases, often in ways that have complicated efforts to ensure fairness and consistency. The decision stopped a Florida recount and intensified concerns about partisanship on the court, a perception that continues to shape public trust today, especially as the court faces high-stakes cases involving the current president and the integrity of future elections.

My courtroom walkup music would be … “Freedom” by Beyoncé.

On weekends I … enjoy taking long walks through the park and having a picnic, spending quality time with family and friends, and unwinding with yoga. 

My favorite meal is … lemon pesto pasta and rotisserie chicken.

My motto is … love yourself on your bad days, because even then you are your best thing.

My favorite song lyric is … “Now I may have faith to make mountains fall/But if I lack love, then I am nothin’ at all.” – Lauryn Hill, “Tell Him”

The last TV show I binge-watched was … FROM on Amazon Prime.

My favorite podcast is … Second Date Update with Brooke and Jeffrey.

The one piece of advice I offer to new lawyers is … to seek out genuine mentorship and community—both within and beyond the profession. Make time for connection outside of work, and pursue your own standard of excellence rather than simply replicating what others are doing. Your mindset and lived experience bring a unique lens to the practice of law, and that perspective is valuable, so invest in developing it.