Justice Ketanji Jackson: What Cragan Told Oliva Benson, What Byrd Told Hillary Clinton, What I Learned from the Chair of Paul, Weiss

Myths about a meritocracy and doing the right thing often distract from the realities of power. By time the bloodied or forced out "get it" that power typically is the decider serious damage could have happened. To the institution. To the professional's career. To innocent bystanders such as the 8.2 billion humans on planet earth.

Could this be triggered by the most junior member of the Supreme Court of the United States? That is, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

In a series of articles in The New York Times which examine the styles of the three SCOTUS liberal members - here and here - there's this conjecture: Justice Jackson's iconoclastic approach in that rigid organization:

" ... could risk those votes [which contain a toning-down of conservative opinion thanks to the diplomacy of the other two liberals], or further erode faith in a court that may yet stand up to Mr. Trump ..."

Justice Jackson's MO includes:

• Being combative, in-person and in opinions, in contrast to attempting to form alliances. Creating coalitions is standard in the Court. There had even been a blow-out between her and important swing vote Amy Comey Barrett. Justice Elena Kagan has made it her business to build bridges with the Chief Justice as well as others. As a result, Justice Kagan has a track record for softening the content of some of the conservative rulings.

• Ignoring tradition in an old-line system based on seniority and a code of gentility. Although a junior member she takes the longest to speak. She uses inflammatory rhetoric targeted directly at the conservative majority. She issues dissents that haven't been requested. What a nuisance. 

• Pitching a point of view directly to the public. You might have noticed how she pops up in the media. Yet, SCOTUS is a secretive organization. Taboo is going out of the box. 

No surprise, The New York Times notes, Justice Jackson has created tensions with her liberal colleagues as well as the entire court. Those who understand how organizations work can envision this Justice losing the little influence she might still have. Her legacy could be as a tragic legal figure. 

Given that politics is the art of getting things done, I doubt that her philosophy of confrontation will make her a hero. That's even though she does have supporters who contend they understand what she's up to. And it could save democracy. 

Think about this:

In the fictional "SVU" Captain Donald Cragan barks at the too-idealistic Oliva Benson, "You don't have a political bone in your body." 

In real life when Hillary Clinton joined the US Senate she asked that mighty senior Senator Robert Byrd for advice. It was: Be deferential.

When I was nearing emotional and financial shipwreck in the perfect storm of aging and the collapse of my industry, I recognized this: To open the door to fresh opportunity in which age could provide an edge I had to reach out to new kinds of players.

So, to develop second-decade 21st-century political strategies and to refine what were already in the tool box, I did this in an obsessive manner. I researched everything about the career of Paul, Weiss long-term chair Brad Karp. That was all the way back to his college days when he majored in political science and considered running for Congress. What I noticed about him was that in that sharp-elbowed sector he had not only held on but continued to get big things done. I talked to others about him. Now and then he and I communicated. On the basis of that I put together what got me back in business. 

If I were Justice Jacson's intuitive career coach I would give this homework: Research Justice Kagan. Discuss her MO with others. Ask her for feedback.

Thrown off your game, maybe the first time since you started working? You made all the right moves and then the world moved in another direction.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, reskilling and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.