Justice Alito ‘felt ill’ in Philly last month, was taken to doctor out of caution, says spokesperson
The incident has resurrected speculation about a potential Alito retirement before the midterms.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. was taken to an undisclosed hospital during a dinner in Philadelphia two weeks ago. The incident was not made public until Friday.
The March 20 incident involving the 76-year-old, first reported by CNN, came at the heels of a conference held at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, which was meant to celebrate Alito’s 20 years serving on the highest court.
Patricia McCabe, the Supreme Court’s spokesperson, confirmed in a statement that Alito “felt ill during an event in Philadelphia.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, he agreed with his security detail’s recommendation to see a physician before the three-hour drive home,” she said, adding Alito was given fluids for dehydration after the examination and returned home that night as originally planned. She did not say where Alito was treated.
McCabe said Alito went to his own physician for a follow-up and returned to work Monday for an oral argument.
The Federalist Society organized the earlier conference but did not respond to a request for comment regarding Alito’s departure. Requests for comment from Penn went similarly unanswered, though Alito was not on the earlier conference’s schedule and CNN reported he did not attend.
Still, the incident has resurrected speculation about a potential Alito retirement before the midterms, as he’s the second-oldest justice. Justice Clarence Thomas is 77.
A consistent conservative voice on the bench, Alito has a new book coming out the day after the 2026-2027 session is set to begin.
His book, So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution, the Court, and the Country, would likely require a book tour across the country, a feat court observers say would be much harder at the start of the term.
The court already has a 6-3 conservative majority with President Donald Trump having appointed three of the current justices. Should Trump be able to replace Alito with a much younger judge, his imprint on the court would only strengthen for decades to come.
Still, there’s the makeup of the Senate, controlled by Republicans with 53 seats, to consider. Some pundits argue a summer retirement and upcoming appointment could be a mobilizing force for both parties. And while Democrats would have to win four seats to flip the Senate, Politico reports Republicans there have become increasingly anxious about midterm results amid the war with Iran and rising prices.
A Trenton native, Alito grew up just outside the city in Hamilton Township, a proud Phillies fan. Alito’s strong ties to the region have remained in adulthood, as he’s kept a summer beach home in Long Beach Island and made an appearance in Citizens Bank Park in 2022 during the World Series when the Phils faced the Houston Astros.