Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito fell ill last month during event in Philadelphia

Supreme CourtSupreme Court Justice Samuel Alito fell ill last month during event in PhiladelphiaThe conservative justice returned to work at the court a few days later.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. received fluids for dehydration before returning home from an examination on March 20. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 3, 2026, 2:18 PM EDTBy Lawrence Hurley and Rebecca ShabadSupreme Court Justice Samuel Alito became ill during an event in Philadelphia on the evening of March 20, a spokesperson for the high court said Friday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“Out of an abundance of caution, he agreed with his security detail’s recommendation to see a physician before the three-hour drive home,” the spokesperson said.Alito, 76, underwent an examination and received fluids for dehydration, the spokesperson said, adding he returned home that night, which was previously planned.“Justice Alito was thoroughly checked by his own physician, and he returned to work the following Monday for oral argument,” the spokesperson added.Alito has attended all oral arguments since the episode and has participated throughout them, including for the birthright citizenship case on Wednesday.CNN first reported Friday that Alito had been taken to the hospital last month, which was previously undisclosed.Alito has served on the high court since January 2006 after being nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate. He is among the six conservative justices on the bench, along with Justices Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.President Donald Trump nominated Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett to the court during his first term in office. Republicans have been monitoring the justices, especially Alito and Thomas, for possible retirements during Trump’s second term....