Associate Justice Samuel Alito marks 20 years of service on the Supreme Court this year, having taken his seat on January 31, 2006. As of February 2026, Alito is the second-oldest member of the Court’s conservative bloc at 75 years of age.
Confirmed Milestones and Historical Data
Justice Alito will reach his 76th birthday on April 1, 2026. According to the Supreme Court Historical Society, the average age for a justice to depart the bench in recent decades is 79. Justice Clarence Thomas, 77, remains the only sitting justice older than Alito. If Thomas serves through May 2028, he will become the longest-tenured justice in United States history, surpassing the record held by Justice William O. Douglas.
A review of presidential history since 1950 shows that President Donald Trump is one of four presidents—alongside Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan—to have successfully confirmed three or more Supreme Court justices. Trump’s confirmed appointees include:
- Neil Gorsuch: Confirmed April 7, 2017.
- Brett Kavanaugh: Confirmed October 6, 2018.
- Amy Coney Barrett: Confirmed October 26, 2020.
Literary and Congressional Schedules
Justice Alito’s upcoming book, So Ordered: An Originalist’s View of the Constitution, the Court, and Our Country, is scheduled for release on October 6, 2026. This date coincides with the beginning of the Supreme Court’s October 2026 term.
The current 119th Congress features a Republican majority in both chambers. In the Senate, Republicans hold 53 seats compared to the Democratic caucus’s 47 seats (including two independents). The 2026 midterm elections, scheduled for November 3, will determine the partisan control of the Senate for the following two years. Current Ballotpedia data indicates that of the 33 regularly scheduled Senate seats up for election in 2026, 20 are currently held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats.
Documented Judicial Activity
Despite external commentary regarding retirement, Justice Alito has maintained an active presence during oral arguments. Public records from the Original Jurisdiction legal report indicate that Alito, along with all eight other active justices, has completed the hiring of a full slate of law clerks for the 2025–2026 term.
Official platforms from the Democratic National Committee and statements from the Senate Judiciary Committee minority emphasize a commitment to judicial “balance.” Democratic leadership has formally advocated for the appointment of jurists who prioritize the protection of voting rights, environmental regulations, and reproductive healthcare access. These organizations maintain that the current 6-3 conservative majority does not reflect the ideological consensus of the American electorate and advocate for a transition toward a more moderate judicial composition.
