Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was rushed to a Philadelphia hospital last month after falling ill at a Federalist Society dinner, an incident kept secret until now. The 76-year-old conservative justice received treatment for dehydration before returning home the same night with his security team.

What Happened at the Federalist Society Event

On March 20, Alito became ill during an evening dinner following a symposium held in his honor at the University of Pennsylvania law school. His security detail immediately transported him to a local hospital, where physicians evaluated him and administered intravenous fluids for dehydration. Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe confirmed he returned to work the following Monday for oral arguments, appearing healthy during interactions with attorneys.

The justice had skipped that morning’s Supreme Court session to travel to Philadelphia for the Federalist Society event titled An Examination of the Jurisprudence of Samuel Alito. He was not scheduled to appear at the daytime symposium but attended the private evening dinner where the medical incident occurred. McCabe stated Alito agreed with his security team’s recommendation to seek medical attention out of an abundance of caution before the three-hour drive back to Virginia.

Growing Speculation About Retirement

Alito turned 76 on the day of CNN’s report and has served on the nation’s highest court for 20 years since his appointment by President George W. Bush in January 2006. Close friends told CNN he has contemplated retirement, though no decision appears imminent. If Alito steps down, President Donald Trump would gain a fourth Supreme Court appointment, adding to the three justices he named during his first term.

Pattern of Secrecy Around Justice Health

The Supreme Court has a history of withholding information about justice health incidents. The public information office previously declined to reveal Chief Justice John Roberts had fallen at a country club in June 2020, suffering a head injury requiring ambulance transport, until the Washington Post reported it. Alito remains one of the most consistent votes supporting Trump administration policies in court challenges. During recent oral arguments on birthright citizenship, he showed greater receptiveness than his colleagues to Trump’s attempt to end the constitutional principle that anyone born in the United States automatically receives American citizenship.