Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was briefly taken to a hospital last month after becoming ill during a dinner event, according to multiple reports.
The previously undisclosed incident occurred March 20 while Justice Samuel Alito, 76, was attending a Federalist Society dinner in Philadelphia. Sources familiar with the situation told CNN that the justice experienced a sudden health issue during the event and was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution.
Medical staff treated Alito for what was described as dehydration. He was released later the same evening and returned home to Virginia without further complication. (RELATED: Justice Alito Says ‘Disturbing’ Display Came About Because Neighbor Called His Wife This)
As Mediaite reports:
The Federalist Society dinner, called “An Examination of the Jurisprudence of Samuel Alito,” was in Alito’s honor and being held at the University of Pennsylvania law school.
Alito has since attended oral arguments and appeared healthy conducting Supreme Court business. He helped preside over the oral arguments for a birthright citizenship case this week that was attended by President Donald Trump, the first president to attend oral arguments for a case in the Supreme Court.
Alito was first appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006 by then-President George W. Bush. He has a book, titled So Ordered, being released in October, focused on his “originalist” view of the Constitution and where he “identifies the threats to our liberties, and reflects on faith, the nature of law, and American culture.”
News of Alito’s hospital visit comes as much debate has grown about whether or not the conservative judge will be retiring in the near future. CNN reported that “close friends” have said Alito has “contemplated” retirement. Should he retire, he’d open the door to Trump getting to nominate a fourth judge to the Supreme Court.
No official statement has been issued by the Supreme Court or Alito’s office regarding the episode.
Despite initial concern, there is no indication of a serious or ongoing health issue. Alito resumed his normal duties and was back on the bench for oral arguments by April 1.
Some Republican allies have raised the possibility of Justices Alito and Clarence Thomas, aged 77, retiring while Republicans control the Senate, though there is no broad push for them to step down.
Many conservatives view the two justices as reliable members of the court and have expressed a preference for them to remain. President Donald Trump has described both as “fantastic.” (RELATED: Trump Urges Alito, Thomas To Remain On Supreme Court)
The behind-the-scenes discussions are driven in part by concerns that Republicans could lose their Senate majority in November, as well as the possibility of Democrats winning the presidency in 2028.
Those concerns have prompted some to suggest that the justices consider retiring before the 2026 midterms, which would allow for the confirmation of conservative successors under current political conditions.
READ NEXT: Protecting The 6-3 Majority: Should Thomas And/Or Alito Step Aside
