Justice Samuel Alito, one of the longest-serving members of the U.S. Supreme Court, has submitted his financial disclosure for the year 2024, as of August 13. This disclosure notably came after his peers on the bench had filed theirs by May 15, the official deadline. Alito, as he regularly does, used the available 90-day extension permitted for federal judges and justices. His annual disclosure report has attracted attention, primarily for his disclosed reimbursement for a solitary trip to speak at a graduation ceremony at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
The focus on judicial financial disclosures has intensified following revelations concerning other justices. For example, Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly failed to disclose luxury travel benefits he received. Alito himself has come under scrutiny following reports of a trip he took on a private jet to Alaska, paid for by a hedge fund owner with cases before the Court, as outlined in ProPublica’s investigations.
Despite the heightened focus, Justice Alito’s latest disclosure includes only a reimbursement acknowledgment for food and lodging during his Ohio trip. Other notable mentions in the report include a donation of $900 worth of concert tickets from German Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis. According to The New York Times, the princess has become a conservative Catholic with ties to the European far right, emphasizing Alito’s wide-ranging associations.
Alito continues to hold significant investments in various sectors, including mutual funds, municipal bonds, and company shares such as Molson Coors, 3M Co., Boeing, and Procter & Gamble. His financial interests resulted in more than one-third of all recusals among the justices during the 2024-25 term, as noted by watchdog group Fix the Court.
Justice Alito remains active beyond the Supreme Court, serving as an honorary member of Duke Law School’s Bolch Institute advisory board and, along with his wife Martha-Ann, as a member of the honorary board for the Franciscan Monastery for the Holy Land in Washington, D.C. This ongoing engagement highlights not just his legal influence, but his involvement in broader cultural and educational spheres.
This intricate nexus of judicial ethics, travel, and hospitality underscores a growing need for transparency and accountability within the legal community, given the profound impact of justices’ decisions and associations.
The full details of the financial disclosure can be accessed in the official report on SCOTUSblog.