Alito confirms another Supreme Court term

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, in an interview with the The Wall Street Journal published on August 7, 2026, confirmed that he intends to remain on the Court for at least another term, tamping down speculation that he might retire to allow President Donald Trump to appoint a younger conservative successor. Alito, 76, stated, 'Obviously I'm here for another term.' The next term begins in October 2026 and runs through June or early July 2027. Alito and fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, have faced calls from some conservatives to step down, which would give Trump a fourth appointment to the lifetime post. Trump has already appointed three justices during his first term, creating a 6-3 conservative majority. Alito dismissed retirement pressure, comparing it to 'vultures flying around.' The announcement carries political significance ahead of the November midterm elections, as a Democratic-controlled Senate could complicate confirmation of any Trump nominee. Alito, who authored the landmark 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women s Health Organization decision overturning Roe v. Wade, has repeatedly sided with Trump in recent cases, though he has dissented from rulings rejecting Trump's tariffs, firing of United States — Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, and birthright citizenship efforts. He also has a forthcoming book, 'So Ordered: An Originalist's View of the Constitution, the Court, and Our Country,' set for release on October 6, 2026.