Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Reports $3M Memoir Earnings

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson earned nearly $3 million from her memoir "Lovely One," published by Penguin Random House in 2024, receiving a $2,068,750 book advance in 2024 following a $893,750 advance in 2023. Her book tour included multiple major U.S. cities, with the publisher covering travel and lodging expenses. Other justices have also earned substantial income from book deals, including Sonia Sotomayor with $3.9 million, Clarence Thomas with $1.5 million, and Neil Gorsuch with $1.4 million. These lucrative deals have led to recusals in cases involving Penguin Random House’s parent company, Bertelsmann, affecting the court’s ability to hear certain cases due to lack of quorum. Financial disclosures have drawn increased scrutiny, particularly regarding Justice Clarence Thomas's past nondisclosures of gifts and real estate from GOP donor Harlan Crow. Meanwhile, justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh have disclosed income from teaching roles, and Samuel Alito delayed his financial disclosure filing again.