Justice Samuel Alito’s recently released 2023 financial disclosure form has brought to light a gift of concert tickets valued at $900, accepted from a German princess. The disclosure, made public by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on Friday, offers a glimpse into the financial matters of Supreme Court justices, amidst growing discussions around judicial ethics and transparency. While Justice Alito did not report any reimbursements for travel expenses in 2023, the inclusion of the concert ticket gift draws attention to the types of benefits justices are willing to disclose.
Financial disclosures are a routine yet crucial aspect of judicial accountability. Every Supreme Court justice is obligated to file an annual financial disclosure by May 15th. These forms are intended to enhance transparency and reveal potential conflicts of interest, rather than provide a comprehensive picture of a justice’s overall wealth. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts typically makes these forms accessible online in early June. Justices can request extensions up to 90 days, which Justice Alito availed himself of this year. The details within these disclosures are often broad, designed to ensure ethical compliance rather than detailed financial accounting.
Justice Samuel Alito speaking from the bench at the Supreme Court, as his 2023 financial disclosure form becomes public
Beyond the concert ticket gift, Justice Alito’s 2023 form detailed several honorary positions, notably within Catholic organizations. He holds an honorary chairmanship within the advisory council for the Center for the Constitution and Catholic Intellectual Tradition at Catholic University School of Law. This center is dedicated to exploring the influence of Catholic intellectual tradition on American constitutionalism. Additionally, Justice Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, are honorary board members of the Franciscan Monastery for the Holy Land in Washington, D.C. This monastery, which supports the Holy Land and its religious sites, attracts over 50,000 visitors annually to its gardens and replicas of Holy Land shrines. His association also extends to the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, where he serves as an honorary advisory board member, an institute focused on judicial education and improvement within the U.S. judicial system.
In prior disclosures, Justice Alito reported instances where he received transportation, food, or lodging. In 2022, these included lodging and meals during a teaching engagement at Duke University and reimbursement for a four-day trip to Rome, funded by Notre Dame Law School. These instances, alongside the recent concert ticket gift, highlight the range of disclosures made by justices.
Public and media interest in Supreme Court justices’ financial disclosures has significantly increased, particularly following investigative reports by ProPublica in the past year. These reports scrutinized instances of unreported luxury travel and other benefits received by some justices. Notably, ProPublica’s reporting in April 2023 revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had been repeatedly hosted by billionaire Harlan Crow on lavish trips, including yacht cruises and private jet travel, which were not disclosed in financial forms. ProPublica also reported on Justice Alito’s unreported 2008 fishing trip to Alaska, where he traveled on a private jet owned by billionaire Paul Singer, whose hedge fund later had cases before the Supreme Court. Justice Alito did not recuse himself from these cases, raising further ethical questions.
The single gift reported by Justice Alito in his 2023 disclosure was the $900 concert tickets, provided by Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German princess. According to a Tatler article, Princess Gloria is now prominently known as a Catholic activist and proselyte. The disclosure form does not specify the concert or the performer.
Justice Alito’s financial portfolio remains substantial, including mutual funds and investments in individual companies such as Molson Coors, 3M, Abbott Laboratories, Boeing, Caterpillar, and Dow. These companies occasionally have cases that reach the Supreme Court, adding another layer of scrutiny to the justices’ financial interests and potential conflicts. The ongoing focus on judicial disclosures underscores the importance of transparency and ethical conduct within the highest court in the United States.
