Overview of Justice Alito's Financial Disclosure
Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. recently released his 2024 financial disclosure report, providing insight into his financial activities for the year. The report, filed on August 26, detailed minimal external engagements, with no gifts reported and only one reimbursed trip. This disclosure comes amid heightened scrutiny of Supreme Court ethics, particularly concerning undisclosed travel and financial dealings among justices.
Notably, the annual filing revealed no income yet from a recently announced book deal with Basic Books under the Basic Liberty imprint, set for publication in 2026. This lack of reported income aligns with the timing of the deal, which was confirmed by the publisher earlier this month. Additionally, Justice Alito remains one of the few justices with significant individual stock holdings, a point of contention given potential conflicts of interest in business-related cases before the Court.
Details of Travel and Stock Portfolio
The financial disclosure highlighted a single reimbursed trip taken by Justice Alito in 2024. This trip was to speak at a Catholic university's graduation ceremony in Ohio, marking the only external engagement noted in the report. Unlike previous years where undisclosed trips raised ethical concerns, this year's filing appears straightforward with no additional travel or gifts reported.
Justice Alito's active stock portfolio continues to draw attention, as he holds stakes in 28 individual companies as of the end of 2023. This makes him the leader in stock ownership among the nine sitting justices, with investments in firms such as Raytheon, ConocoPhillips, and a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. Critics argue that such extensive holdings could necessitate recusal from major business cases, though no specific conflicts were cited in this year's disclosure.
Book Deal and Ethical Scrutiny
One of the more anticipated aspects of Justice Alito's disclosure was any potential income from his book deal with Basic Books, announced earlier this year. However, the report confirmed no earnings have been received as of the filing date, consistent with the project's timeline for a 2026 release. The book, acquired by Thomas Spence for the Basic Liberty imprint of Hachette Book Group, remains untitled, and no agent was involved in the deal.
The release of this financial disclosure comes at a time when Supreme Court justices face increased public and legislative scrutiny over ethics. Past incidents involving undisclosed luxury trips and financial ties have fueled calls for stricter regulations. While Justice Alito's 2024 report shows limited activity, the ongoing discussion about transparency and potential conflicts of interest, particularly related to stock ownership, remains a significant topic surrounding the judiciary.