Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito fell ill during an event in Philadelphia on March 20. An official spokesperson for the Supreme Court confirmed this on Friday. As a precaution, Alito followed his security detail’s advice and saw a doctor before heading home. He underwent an examination and received treatment for dehydration. Despite the incident, Alito returned home as planned that evening.
Following a thorough check-up by his personal physician, Alito resumed work the following Monday and has since attended all oral arguments. He even participated in the birthright citizenship case on Wednesday. CNN reported that Alito had been hospitalized the previous month, which was not disclosed at the time.
Alito has been a member of the Supreme Court since January 2006. Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate, he is one of the six conservative justices on the bench along with Thomas, Roberts, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett.
President Donald Trump appointed Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett during his first term. Republicans are watching closely for potential retirements from justices Alito and Thomas during Trump’s second term.
Other Supreme Court justices have faced health issues in recent years. Justice Thomas was hospitalized in 2022 with flu-like symptoms. Chief Justice Roberts was briefly hospitalized in 2020 after a fall near his home. In September 2020, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away due to complications from cancer.
In another development, Justice Stephen Breyer retired from the Supreme Court in 2022 during the Biden administration. President Joe Biden nominated Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as his replacement.
