Byrd-Bennett pleaded guilty in federal court to using her position as chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools to guide lucrative no-bid contracts to her former employer in exchange for bribes and kickbacks.

[8][9][10] In 2016, Jenkins was part of a team of lawyers from the United States Department of Justice that investigated the force practices of the Chicago Police Department,[7] being part of the prosecution team in United States v. Aldo Brown.

President Biden nominated Jenkins to the seat vacated by Judge John Z. Lee, who was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on September 12, 2022.

[16] On January 3, 2023, her nomination was returned to the President under Rule XXXI, Paragraph 6 of the United States Senate; she was renominated later the same day.

[23] On April 27, 2023, Jenkins declined to block enforcement of the Protect Illinois Communities Act, an assault weapons ban.