Laura Jarrett is a prominent American broadcast journalist and attorney who serves as the co-anchor of Saturday Morning Fox & Friends and a senior legal correspondent for Fox News. Before joining Fox News in 2023, she spent six years at CNN, where she covered the Department of Justice, the Supreme Court, and major legal developments as an anchor and reporter.
Introduction and Professional Identity
Understanding the trajectory of Laura Jarrett requires examining her transition from private legal practice to high-profile network television news. Operating at the intersection of law and journalism, Jarrett brings rigorous legal analysis to complex national stories. Her background as a trained litigator influences her reporting style, allowing her to break down intricate court rulings, legislative debates, and high-stakes government investigations for a broad television audience.
This profile examines her early life, her educational foundations at prestigious academic institutions, her legal career in Chicago and Washington, D.C., her tenure at CNN, her move to Fox News, and her broader impact on contemporary legal journalism.
Family Background and Early Life
Laura Jarrett was born on August 29, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois. She comes from a family with deep roots in law, public service, and academia. Her mother is Valerie Jarrett, a prominent attorney and civic leader who served as a senior advisor to President Barack Obama. Her father is William Jarrett, a pediatrician who passed away in 1993.
Growing up in Chicago within a family engaged in public policy and community advocacy exposed Jarrett to discussions regarding law, governance, and public affairs from an early age. While this upbringing placed her in the public sphere, she pursued her own distinct academic and professional paths, eventually choosing a career that bridged law and media rather than elected office or direct political administration.
Educational Background and Legal Training
Jarrett's academic record reflects rigorous training in both the humanities and jurisprudence. She attended the elite Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, graduating in 2001. Following high school, she enrolled at Amherst College, where she studied political science and developed an interest in constitutional law and institutional governance. She graduated from Amherst with a Bachelor of Arts in 2005.
Following her undergraduate studies, Jarrett entered Harvard Law School. During her time at Harvard, she engaged in legal research and writing, gaining exposure to the practical application of federal jurisprudence. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Harvard Law School in 2010.
Her legal training provided her with the technical vocabulary, analytical framework, and procedural understanding necessary to interpret complex judicial opinions and investigative reports—skills that would later define her broadcasting career.
Transition from Law to Journalism
Before entering the television news industry, Jarrett practiced law in the private sector. She worked as a litigation associate for Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago, where she handled complex commercial litigation, appellate matters, and white-collar defense cases. Following her time at Mayer Brown, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard A. Posner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Clerking for a jurist of Judge Posner’s stature provided Jarrett with direct exposure to federal appellate decision-making and judicial writing. She also spent time working on public interest litigation and defense matters before shifting her focus entirely to journalism. Recognizing a growing demand for journalists with firsthand legal expertise who could interpret court filings and legal maneuvers in real-time, Jarrett transitioned away from active litigation to pursue reporting full-time.
Tenure at CNN (2016–2023)
Jarrett joined CNN in November 2016 as a legal reporter based in the network’s Washington, D.C., bureau. Her arrival coincided with a period of heightened legal and political scrutiny surrounding federal agencies, investigations into the 2016 presidential election, and high-profile Supreme Court vacancies.
| Period / Role | Network | Primary Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–2022 | CNN | Department of Justice, Supreme Court, federal investigations, legal correspondent |
| 2022–2023 | CNN | Co-anchor of Early Start, morning news programming |
| 2023–Present | Fox News | Senior legal correspondent, co-anchor of Saturday Morning Fox & Friends |
During her years at CNN, Jarrett covered major national stories, including special counsel investigations, congressional hearings, and landmark Supreme Court rulings on abortion, gun rights, and executive authority. She frequently appeared on programs across the network to provide live analysis from the U.S. Supreme Court steps or the Department of Justice press briefing room.
In early 2022, Jarrett expanded her portfolio by taking on anchor duties, becoming the co-anchor of CNN’s early-morning news program, Early Start. This role tested her endurance and broadcast versatility, requiring her to manage breaking overnight news, conduct live interviews with lawmakers, and maintain a rigorous daily production schedule.
Move to Fox News and Current Roles
In January 2023, Jarrett made a high-profile career move by joining Fox News as a senior legal correspondent based in Washington, D.C. In this role, she reports on major legal trials, Supreme Court decisions, and constitutional questions across the network’s daytime and primetime lineups.
In addition to her reporting duties, Jarrett was named co-anchor of Saturday Morning Fox & Friends alongside Rachel Campos-Duffy and Will Cain. In this capacity, she helps guide weekend morning coverage, balancing hard news reporting on developing legal stories with lifestyle, cultural, and political discussions. Her dual role allows her to function both as an investigative legal journalist during the week and as a weekend morning anchor engaging a wide demographic of viewers.
Professional Impact and Journalistic Style
Jarrett’s reporting is characterized by a measured, analytical approach that avoids sensationalism when discussing complex legal matters. Because she possesses a formal law degree and practical courtroom experience, she frequently unpacks dense legal jargon into accessible terms for viewers without oversimplifying the underlying constitutional principles.
Her coverage of the Department of Justice and federal courts has made her a recognized voice in American media for translating procedural updates into clear narratives. Whether analyzing grand jury proceedings, federal sentencing guidelines, or appellate oral arguments, Jarrett maintains a focus on accuracy and procedural context.
Personal Life and Public Profile
Despite her high-profile media career, Jarrett maintains a relatively private personal life. She married fellow attorney Brian Hauss in 2012, and the couple has children. She resides in the Washington, D.C., area. While both she and her mother, Valerie Jarrett, operate in spheres connected to national politics and public policy, Laura Jarrett has maintained a distinct journalistic career focused on neutral reporting and legal analysis.
Summary of Career Milestones
To understand the progression of Laura Jarrett's professional life, her career can be broken down into distinct educational, legal, and journalistic phases:
- Academic Foundations: Graduated from Amherst College (2005) and earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2010).
- Legal Practice: Practiced commercial litigation at Mayer Brown LLP and served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Richard A. Posner on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
- CNN Era (2016–2023): Served as a legal reporter covering the Department of Justice and Supreme Court, later transitioning to co-anchor Early Start.
- Fox News Era (2023–Present): Joined as senior legal correspondent and named co-anchor of Saturday Morning Fox & Friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Laura Jarrett's educational background?
Laura Jarrett earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Amherst College in 2005. She subsequently attended Harvard Law School, where she earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2010. Her academic background laid the groundwork for her dual career in law and legal journalism.
Where did Laura Jarrett work before joining Fox News?
Before joining Fox News in January 2023, Jarrett spent six years at CNN. At CNN, she initially worked as a legal reporter and correspondent covering the Department of Justice and the U.S. Supreme Court, later advancing to co-anchor the morning program Early Start.
What are Laura Jarrett's primary roles at Fox News?
At Fox News, Jarrett serves as a senior legal correspondent, providing expert analysis on court cases, federal investigations, and Supreme Court rulings. She is also the co-anchor of Saturday Morning Fox & Friends, where she helps lead weekend morning news broadcasts.
Did Laura Jarrett practice law before becoming a journalist?
Yes. Prior to entering broadcast journalism, Jarrett practiced law in the private sector as a litigation associate at Mayer Brown LLP in Chicago. She also gained judicial experience by serving as a law clerk for Judge Richard A. Posner on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Is Laura Jarrett related to Valerie Jarrett?
Yes. Laura Jarrett is the daughter of Valerie Jarrett, a prominent attorney, businesswoman, and civic leader who served as a senior advisor to President Barack Obama.
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