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2h ago

Alito Says He Will Serve Another Supreme Court Term

Preserving the court’s 6-3 conservative majority, the statement reduces the immediate opportunity for President Trump to name a fourth justice.

FILE - Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito attends a meeting in Rome, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito attends an event organized by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See, in Rome, Italy, September 20, 2025. REUTERS/Vincenzo Livieri
Image
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito in 2026. | Getty Images

Overview

  • On Friday, Aug. 7, Justice Samuel Alito told the Wall Street Journal that he intends to return for at least one more term and is not retiring this year.
  • The clarification ends the short-term vacancy scenario that followed an erroneous NPR report on June 30 that falsely said Alito would step down; NPR quickly retracted the story and reporter Nina Totenberg apologized.
  • Alito defended his decision-making, saying he votes on the merits of each case and rejecting the idea that he times rulings or retirement to favor any president.
  • Republican leaders had pushed for conservative successors if a retirement occurred, with Sen. Chuck Grassley naming names as potential nominees, so Alito’s choice narrows an immediate path for another Trump appointee.
  • The confirmation math now hinges on the November 2026 midterms because a shift in Senate control would change the prospects for any future Supreme Court nominee and make the timing of retirements highly consequential.