What happened
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was taken to a Philadelphia hospital on 20 March after falling ill at a Federalist Society dinner held in his honour at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was treated for dehydration and returned home to Virginia the same night.
The incident was not publicly disclosed until CNN broke the story on 3 April. The Supreme Court then confirmed it. Alito had been scheduled to deliver the keynote address but did not make remarks due to his illness.
Why it matters: Alito is 76 and the second-oldest justice behind Clarence Thomas. A retirement would give President Trump the opportunity to nominate a fourth Supreme Court justice, further cementing the conservative majority for decades.
Retirement question
Close friends told CNN that Alito has contemplated retirement but no decision appears imminent. He has served 20 years on the bench. Since the hospital incident, Alito has attended oral arguments and appeared healthy.
Alito has a book planned for October 2026, which could influence timing. Conservatives broadly want him to retire while Trump and a Republican Senate can confirm a younger replacement.
What happens next
Trump has reportedly been discussing potential nominees with advisers. The next Supreme Court term begins in October 2026. A retirement announcement, if it comes, could arrive this summer. The Senate confirmation process would be immediate and intensely contested.