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Samuel Alito
Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court justice who accepted undisclosed luxury trips from billionaire Paul Singer while Singer had cases before the court, and authored the Dobbs opinion overturning Roe v. Wade
Overview
Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. has served as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 2006. ProPublica revealed in 2023 that Alito took a luxury fishing trip to Alaska in 2008 on a private jet provided by billionaire hedge fund manager Paul Singer, who had business before the Supreme Court. Alito did not recuse from cases involving Singer's hedge fund, Elliott Management, and voted in Singer's favor in a 2014 case (Republic of Argentina v. NML Capital) where Singer's fund stood to gain $2.4 billion. Alito never disclosed the trip on his financial disclosure forms. Alito authored the majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022), overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating the constitutional right to abortion after nearly 50 years. A draft of the Dobbs opinion was leaked to Politico in May 2022, and investigators were unable to identify the source. An upside-down American flag was displayed outside Alito's home in January 2021, a symbol associated with the "Stop the Steal" movement.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Accepted undisclosed luxury fishing trip from billionaire Paul Singer who had cases before the court
Did not recuse from Singer's $2.4 billion Argentina case; voted in Singer's favor
Authored Dobbs opinion overturning Roe v. Wade after nearly 50 years
Upside-down American flag displayed at home during January 6 period
Appeal to Heaven flag flown at vacation home, associated with Christian nationalist movement
Blamed wife for flag displays in Senate testimony
Related Investigations (8)
The Federalist SocietyFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalJudicial Capture by Federalist SocietyInstitutional Corruption
Tier 1
criticalLeonard Leo & The Dark Money CourtsFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalThe Overturn of Roe v. WadeHuman Rights
Tier 3
criticalSupreme Court Ethics ScandalJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSupreme Court Ethics CrisisInstitutional Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSupreme Court Ethics ScandalJudicial Corruption
Tier 4
criticalSupreme Court Ethics CrisisFinancial Crime
Tier 2
criticalCriminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
5 U.S.C. App. 101-111Failure to disclose gifts on annual financial disclosure reports (Ethics in Government Act - not criminally charged)(federal)
28 U.S.C. 455Failure to recuse from cases where impartiality questioned (not enforced for SCOTUS)(federal)
Known Associates & Connections
Paul Singer
Billionaire hedge fund manager who provided luxury travel
Leonard Leo
Federalist Society leader; dark money network
Clarence Thomas
Fellow justice facing similar ethics scrutiny
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- April 1, 1950
- Birthplace
- Trenton, New Jersey
Education
- •Princeton University (A.B.)
- •Yale Law School (J.D.)
Key Timeline
2006-01-31
Confirmed to Supreme Court 58-42
2008
Takes luxury fishing trip to Alaska on Paul Singer's private jet
2014-06-16
Votes in Singer's favor in Republic of Argentina v. NML Capital
2021-01
Upside-down American flag displayed at home
2022-05-02
Draft Dobbs opinion leaked to Politico
2022-06-24
Dobbs v. Jackson: Roe v. Wade overturned
2023-06-20
ProPublica reveals undisclosed Singer trip