--- title: "Samuel A. Alito, Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-09" --- # Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Supreme Court of the United States · Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court ## Profile - Court: Supreme Court of the United States - State: National federal courts - Role: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-29 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Supreme Court of the United States, 2006-present - Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, appointed by President George W. Bush on October 31, 2005, and serving since January 31, 2006 - Judge, Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1990-2006 - U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (1987–1990) and then appointed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in 1990, serving until his Supreme Court nomination - Deputy assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1985-1987 - Assistant to the solicitor general, U.S. Department of Justice, 1981-1985 - After law school, Alito clerked for Judge Leonard I. Garth on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, held the role of Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey (1977–1981), and as Assistant to the Solicitor General (1981–1985). - Law clerk, Hon. Leonard I. Garth, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1976-1977 - The second Italian American justice on the Court and one of its most conservative members ### Education - He graduated from Princeton University (A.B. in history and political science, 1972) and Yale Law School (J.D., 1975), where he edited the Yale Law Journal. ### Additional information - Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) — overturning Roe v. - AFSCME (2018) — public-sector union fees - He is a practicing Catholic and has been recognized with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2017). - Hobby Lobby (2014) — religious exemptions in health insurance - City of Chicago (2010) — Second Amendment rights - Alito married Martha-Ann Bomgardner in 1985 and has two children. - Born April 1, 1950, Trenton, New Jersey. - Date of birth: 1950-01-01 - Dobbs v. - Wade - Janus v. - Burwell v. - McDonald v. - Alito describes himself as a “practical originalist” — interpreting the Constitution according to its original meaning while working within the judicial process. - Served in the U.S. Army Reserve and later as a captain in the Army Signal Corps. - Alito was born to Italian immigrant parents — his father, Samuel A. Alito Sr., a Calabrian immigrant, and his mother, Rose Fradusco, a Basilicata native. - Birth place: Trenton, NJ ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### courtroom address Scope: courtwide Wait at the lectern until recognized, open with the court's prescribed salutation, do not introduce counsel, address the Chief Justice with the specified title, and address other Justices as Justice [name] or Your Honor, not Judge. Evidence excerpt: Others are referred to as "Justice Thomas," "Justice Kagan," or "Your Honor." Do not use the title "Judge." [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### argument time Scope: courtwide Argument is normally scheduled for 30 minutes, but counsel need not use all allotted time. Evidence excerpt: Your argument time is normally scheduled for 30 minutes (Rule 28.3). You need not use all your time. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### time signal Scope: courtwide When the red light comes on, finish answering the pending question but do not present a summation. Evidence excerpt: When the red light comes on, counsel may finish responding to a question that is pending, but should not present a summation. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### prepared script Scope: courtwide Speak clearly into the microphone, do not read from a prepared script, and do not use rapid-fire delivery to stretch argument time. Evidence excerpt: Under no circumstances should you read your argument from a prepared script. You should not attempt to enhance your argument time by a rapid fire delivery. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### justice questions Scope: courtwide Never interrupt a Justice. If interrupted, stop speaking immediately, listen, and give that Justice full attention. Evidence excerpt: Never interrupt a Justice who is addressing you. Give your full time and attention to that Justice. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### direct answers Scope: courtwide Answer questions directly, use yes or no when possible before explaining, and say so if you do not know the answer. Evidence excerpt: Make every effort to answer questions directly. If at all possible, say "yes" or "no," and then expand upon your answer if you wish. If you do not know the answer, say so. [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Official roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Supreme Court of the United States current members](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/77/samuel-a-alito-jr/) - [Guide for Counsel in Cases to be Argued, October Term 2024](https://www.supremecourt.gov/casehand/Guide%20for%20Counsel%202024.pdf) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) - [Supreme Court of the United States judicial profile or roster](https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr", "name": "Samuel A. Alito, Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Supreme Court of the United States. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-09", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr#judge", "name": "Samuel A. Alito, Jr.", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr", "jobTitle": "Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Supreme Court of the United States" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/77/samuel-a-alito-jr/" ], "birthDate": "1950", "birthPlace": "Trenton, NJ", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Princeton University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Yale University" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "National federal courts", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/national-federal-courts" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel A. Alito, Jr.", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/samuel-a-alito-jr" } ] } ] } ```