Justice Samuel Alito recently reported receiving $900 worth of concert tickets from a German princess, Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, in his annual financial disclosure form. While he did not report any other trips paid for by individuals or outside income from teaching or book contracts, he did disclose a few stock sales, including selling between $1,000 and $15,000 of Anheuser Busch stock in 2023. Alito also mentioned a 2015 loan from Edward D. Jones, which was largely paid down but had been inadvertently omitted from past reports. He has faced scrutiny over flags that flew outside his homes, which he attributed to his wife raising them.
The financial disclosures of Supreme Court justices have been under heightened scrutiny in recent years, with concerns raised over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors. Justice Clarence Thomas recently belatedly disclosed additional travel expenses paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, including trips to Bali, Indonesia, and Sonoma County, California. Alito was previously reported to have taken a private plane trip to a luxury Alaska fishing lodge in 2008 funded by two wealthy Republican donors, which he defended as exempt from disclosure due to personal hospitality exemptions.
The justices recently adopted an ethics code that lacks enforcement mechanisms, treating travel, food, and lodging as expenses rather than gifts. Justices are not required to attach value to these expenses. Some Democrats, including President Joe Biden, have advocated for a binding code of conduct with provisions for investigating alleged violations. Justice Elena Kagan has also supported the adoption of an enforcement mechanism, but the likelihood of such legislation passing in a divided Congress is uncertain.
The annual financial disclosures of the justices provide only a partial view of their financial circumstances, as they are not required to reveal the value of their homes or their spouses’ salaries. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson also disclosed receiving concert tickets, valued at over $3,700, from singer Beyoncé. Several justices reported significant payments from book deals on top of their salaries. In their official capacities, the justices are paid $298,500 annually, with Chief Justice John Roberts earning $312,200.
Overall, the disclosures shed light on the financial activities of Supreme Court justices, with varying reactions to the ethical standards and transparency of their reporting. Calls for a more stringent code of conduct with enforcement mechanisms highlight ongoing concerns over potential conflicts of interest and the influence of outside gifts on judicial decision-making. The debate over the extent of financial disclosure requirements for justices continues, as stakeholders consider how best to ensure accountability and maintain public trust in the highest court in the land.
