---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never studied critical race theory…"
description: "\"I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.\" — Ketanji Brown Jackson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg"
---

#  I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used…

![“I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.” quote by Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg)

> “I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.”

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker asserts personal lack of engagement with critical race theory in professional duties as a judge.

**In simple terms:** Judge says she hasn't studied or applied critical race theory.

Key Takeaway

Recognize personal experience may differ from public perception.

Themes

judicial independence public perception legal education

Mood

reflective neutral

Type

statement defensive

When to use this quote

- courtroom decisions
- law school curricula
- public policy debates
- media commentary

Key Concepts

critical race theory judicial bias legal methodology

Questions to Reflect On

- How might personal experience limit understanding of broader legal impacts?
- Should judges be required to engage with contemporary legal theories?

A Different Perspective

May overlook systemic influences that shape legal contexts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Critical Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-race-498308/) [Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-theory-971806/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-judge-569566/)

## Related quotes

> [Critical race theory - any academic theory - is not considered in my sentencing. It never comes up in sentencing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/critical-race-theory-any-academic-theory-is-not-considered-in-my/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [We have got to ensure that things like critical race theory are not creeping in and causing our children to hate the nation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/we-have-got-to-ensure-that-things-like-critical-race-theory-are-not/)

[Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/)

> [Critical Race Theory offers a critique of how law and certain law reform strategies misunderstand the actual operation of life-shortening state violence, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/critical-race-theory-offers-a-critique-of-how-law-and-certain-law/)

[Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/)

> [In the 21st century, we must teach and learn from our history and swear never to repeat it, but we cannot use our past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/in-the-21st-century-we-must-teach-and-learn-from-our-history-and/)

[Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/)

> [Critical Race Theory is a warped ideology that seeks to divide Americans and relitigate the sins of the past by pinning White Americans against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-donalds/critical-race-theory-is-a-warped-ideology-that-seeks-to-divide/)

[Byron Donalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-donalds/)

> [Critical race theory is racist. It does nothing to bring us together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/critical-race-theory-is-racist-it-does-nothing-to-bring-us-together/)

[Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/)

> [the artist is not separate from the work and therefore cannot judge it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/the-artist-is-not-separate-from-the-work-and-therefore-cannot-judge-it/)

[Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/)

> [The Biden administration has embraced the divisive curriculum of Critical Race Theory to rewrite history and paint the United States as a villain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-tuberville/the-biden-administration-has-embraced-the-divisive-curriculum-of/)

[Tommy Tuberville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-tuberville/)

> [Critical race theory' is not 'anti-racism,' and objecting to it does not make you a racist. It means the opposite. In true Orwellian fashion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/critical-race-theory-is-not-anti-racism-and-objecting-to-it-does-not/)

[Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/)

> [I ask everyone to join together - Republicans, Democrats, Independents and 'I Don't Cares' - to stand against racism of all kinds. Every kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-taylor-greene/i-ask-everyone-to-join-together-republicans-democrats-independents/)

[Marjorie Taylor Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-taylor-greene/)

> [I know that my role as a judge is a limited one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-know-that-my-role-as-a-judge-is-a-limited-one/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I personally want to come across as authentic and real. I don't judge anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-mitchell/i-personally-want-to-come-across-as-authentic-and-real-i-don-t-judge/)

[Maia Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-mitchell/)

> [There's this false notion that you have to separate and choose between issues of class and issues of race. What people do when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/there-s-this-false-notion-that-you-have-to-separate-and-choose/)

[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/)

> [As African-Americans, we don't start with a blank slate, while other people may. In our position, there's always some sort of stereotype that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-woods/as-african-americans-we-don-t-start-with-a-blank-slate-while-other/)

[Xavier Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-woods/)

> [The Malays are spiritually inclined, tolerant, and easy-going. The non-Malays, and especially the Chinese, are materialistic, aggressive, and have an appetite for work. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/the-malays-are-spiritually-inclined-tolerant-and-easy-going-the-non/)

[Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/)

## More by Ketanji Brown Jackson

> [You never know what cases are going to become significant and the Supreme Court is part of that story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/you-never-know-what-cases-are-going-to-become-significant-and-the/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [My mother had been adamant that I learn how to swim properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-mother-had-been-adamant-that-i-learn-how-to-swim-properly/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [As someone who has had family members on patrol and in the line of fire, I care deeply about public safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/as-someone-who-has-had-family-members-on-patrol-and-in-the-line-of/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I believe that the Constitution is an enduring document.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-believe-that-the-constitution-is-an-enduring-document/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Presidents are not kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/presidents-are-not-kings/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [My very earliest memories are of watching my father study - he had his stack of law books on the kitchen table while I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/my-very-earliest-memories-are-of-watching-my-father-study-he-had-his/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [That's what you do as a federal public defender. You are standing up for the constitutional value of representation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/that-s-what-you-do-as-a-federal-public-defender-you-are-standing-up/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I'm a mom and a real person and a wife and doing the best that I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-m-a-mom-and-a-real-person-and-a-wife-and-doing-the-best-that-i-can/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I evaluate the facts, and I interpret and apply the law to the facts of the case before me without fear or favor, consistent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-evaluate-the-facts-and-i-interpret-and-apply-the-law-to-the-facts/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Federal public defenders don't get to pick their clients. They have to represent whoever comes in. And it's a service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/federal-public-defenders-don-t-get-to-pick-their-clients-they-have-to/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [If we're going to continue to move forward as a nation, we can't allow concern about discomfort to displace knowledge, truth, or history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/if-we-re-going-to-continue-to-move-forward-as-a-nation-we-can-t-allow/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I know that my role as a judge is a limited one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-know-that-my-role-as-a-judge-is-a-limited-one/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I know my judicial role is further constrained by careful adherence to precedent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-know-my-judicial-role-is-further-constrained-by-careful-adherence/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [I'm a human being and I have an opinion on a lot of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-m-a-human-being-and-i-have-an-opinion-on-a-lot-of-things/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

> [Over time I learned to zip shut any bags I might be carrying before I walked into a shop, and to always keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/over-time-i-learned-to-zip-shut-any-bags-i-might-be-carrying-before-i/)

[Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

[Explore all 99 Ketanji Brown Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/)

## More Come quotes

> [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/)

[Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/)

[Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

> [Mihir is one of the most secure men that I have ever come across in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/mihir-is-one-of-the-most-secure-men-that-i-have-ever-come-across-in/)

[Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/)

> [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/)

[Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/)

> [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/)

[Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/)

> [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/)

[Souvik Khamrui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/souvik-khamrui/)

> [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/)

[Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [My preference is for people who come to rehearsal and get into the ring. I like a muscular actor who's playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/my-preference-is-for-people-who-come-to-rehearsal-and-get-into-the/)

[Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

[Browse all 13,032 Come quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ketanji Brown Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory-i-ve-never-used-it-it-doesn-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Come"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory-i-ve-never-used-it-it-doesn-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b55/ketanji-brown-jackson-6300_come_i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory_3211186.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've never studied critical race theory, I've never used it, it doesn't come up in my work as a judge.” — Ketanji Brown Jackson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ketanji Brown Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've never studied critical race theory,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory-i-ve-never-used-it-it-doesn-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/i-ve-never-studied-critical-race-theory-i-ve-never-used-it-it-doesn-t/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
