WASHINGTON — In recent developments concerning the health of Supreme Court justices, Samuel Alito, at 76, experienced a medical situation following a dinner in Philadelphia. This incident occurred on March 20, as confirmed by the court’s spokeswoman on Friday.
Justice Alito, the second-oldest member of the Supreme Court after Clarence Thomas, who is 77, was taken to a Philadelphia hospital, where he was treated for dehydration. After receiving fluids, Alito was discharged the same night and returned to his Virginia residence under the escort of his security team.
This occurrence, first reported by CNN, highlights the discreet nature of the court regarding the personal health matters of its members, often only coming to public attention through media leaks. The specific hospital where Alito received treatment was not disclosed by the court.
Following the incident, Alito, who had just celebrated his 76th birthday, has resumed his duties at the Supreme Court. He has since participated in oral arguments, including the recent discussion on former President Donald Trump’s controversial effort to limit birthright citizenship.
The news comes after Alito’s 76th birthday. He has since returned to the Supreme Court bench and has sat in on oral arguments, including Wednesday’s hearing over President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
The incident is the latest example of the justices’ reticence to discuss their health, at least until the news somehow leaks.
In 2020, the court confirmed that Chief Justice John Roberts had spent a night in the hospital after a fall that required stitches in his forehead, only after the Washington Post reported it first.
Alito was appointed by former President George W. Bush and has served as a justice for 20 years. He is the second-oldest Supreme Court justice behind Clarence Thomas.
His health has led to speculation of his possible retirement. In June 2024, Alito was notably absent from the Supreme Court for two days as it handed down several opinions. The high court did not offer an explanation at the time for Alito’s absence, during which the Supreme Court handed down nine opinions.
While Alito is young by Supreme Court standards, he might not want to stay around and gamble on the possibility of Democrats flipping the Senate in the November elections and seeing a Democrat capture the White House two years later.
If Alito were to step down, it would allow Trump a fourth appointment to the nine-member Supreme Court bench. The Republican president named three justices with lifetime tenure during his first term.
Retiring in the summer would allow Trump to name a similarly conservative but much younger replacement who would almost certainly win confirmation from the Republican-led Senate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
