The recent release of the U.S. Supreme Court justices’ annual financial disclosures has drawn attention to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s lucrative book deal. In 2024, Justice Jackson received over $2 million in book advances from Penguin Random House for her memoir, “Lovely One,” which reached the New York Times bestseller list. The disclosure forms, published by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, provide insight into potential conflicts of interest and the justices’ adherence to ethical guidelines, rather than their overall wealth.
The financial disclosures were made accessible on a Tuesday at noon EDT, except for Justice Samuel Alito, whose forms remained pending due to an extension. These forms, expected annually every May, are disclosed in June. The figures offer a glimpse into the additional incomes the justices received, highlighting Jackson’s earnings as the highest among them for this particular period.
Justice Neil Gorsuch and Justice Sonia Sotomayor also reported notable earnings related to their literary endeavors, although on a smaller scale compared to Jackson. Gorsuch earned $250,000 for his book “Over Ruled,” co-authored with his former clerk, published by HarperCollins, while Sotomayor garnered nearly $134,000 from Penguin Random House in royalties and advances.
Beyond publishing, the justices were involved in various educational roles. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, for instance, worked as adjunct professors at Notre Dame Law School, earning approximately $31,815 each. Justice Gorsuch taught a brief course at George Mason University in Porto, Portugal, for which he earned $30,379.91. Meanwhile, Chief Justice John Roberts led a nearly two-week course on the Supreme Court at New England Law School in Galway, Ireland.
Travel, lectures, and moot court responsibilities also appear in the justices’ financial breadcrumbs. Barrett’s lecture at Pepperdine University, Jackson’s commencement address at Spelman College, and Sotomayor’s multiple international and domestic engagements were part of their non-judicial activities documented in the disclosures.
Justice Clarence Thomas, in contrast, did not report any non-investment income or travel reimbursements for 2024. This comes in the wake of ongoing scrutiny following allegations reported by ProPublica regarding his previous undisclosed trips, leading to calls for more transparency in the justices’ ethical accountability.
These disclosures, while financially significant, are crucial for understanding the economic engagements of those at the highest echelons of the judiciary. Further detailed analysis of the financial disclosures can be accessed on SCOTUSblog.