Justice Samuel Alito, Author of Dobbs Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade, Announces Retirement

Alito was nominated by President George W. Bush in 2005. The Supreme Court announced his retirement on Tuesday.

Landmark Opinions and Judicial Record

Justice Samuel Alito leaves behind a consequential legacy, defined by several major opinions that reshaped American law:

• Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022): Alito authored the majority opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade, ending nearly 50 years of federal constitutional protection for abortion.
• Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014): He wrote the decision allowing closely held corporations to refuse contraception coverage on religious grounds.
• McDonald v. Chicago (2010): Alito authored the opinion applying the Second Amendment to state and local gun laws.

Throughout his tenure, Alito consistently voted to restrict abortion rights, expand religious freedoms, limit voting rights, and uphold the death penalty.

A Shift in the Court's Balance

Alito replaced Justice Sandra Day O'Connor in 2006, a nomination that shifted the Supreme Court decisively to the right. His retirement now adds to the ongoing debate over the court's ideological balance.

Reactions and Analysis

Responses to Alito's retirement and his judicial legacy have been varied:

Adam Ciongoli, a former Alito law clerk, described him as a justice focused on legal rules.

Sarah Isgur, a former Trump Justice Department official, criticized the Dobbs decision for failing to persuade on precedent.

Michael Dorf, a Cornell law professor, called the opinion "dishonest" for its selective use of history.

Akhil Amar, a Yale law professor, noted Alito's role as a consistent conservative workhorse on the bench.