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WASHINGTON (CN) — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson topped the book earnings charts at the Supreme Court last year, reporting over $2 million in income from her 2024 autobiography.
Book deals have become a lucrative stream of income for the high court, with the justices collectively reporting over $10 million in earnings while on the bench. New details about the justices’ book deals were on display in yearly financial disclosures that were released Tuesday.
Eight justices submitted their reports. Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, requested a 90-day extension, which he has done in previous years.
In 2024, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Joe Biden appointee, received the second installment of her memoir advance for “Lovely One,” following an earlier payment of nearly $900,000, her financial disclosure shows.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a prolific author, earned over $133,000 from her five published books, including a $60,000 advance for her upcoming children’s novel, “Just Shine!” To date, she has made nearly $4 million from book deals.
Justice Neil Gorsuch, who released “Over Ruled” last year, reported more than $250,000 in royalty income.
Teaching remained a favored side job among the justices. The three Trump appointees — Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett — each earned around $30,000 for teaching, with Gorsuch at George Mason and the others at Notre Dame Law School.
The justices’ financial disclosures, though limited in detail, have come under heightened scrutiny following reports of undisclosed gifts from wealthy donors. Watchdog group Fix the Court estimated more than $3 million in such largesse last year.
Justice Clarence Thomas, in particular, drew criticism for failing to report luxury trips and private jet travel funded by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow. The Supreme Court later adopted a new ethics code, but critics argue it lacks teeth, as enforcement remains in the justices’ own hands.
In 2024, Thomas reported no new gifts from billionaires but disclosed an “inadvertently omitted” insurance policy he bought in 2001 and sold in 2025. Valued at $250,000, the policy earned him up to $5,000 last year.
Justice Sotomayor was the only member of the court to report a gift in 2024 — a visit to the Coterie Theater in Kansas City, Mo., worth $1,437, where she attended a workshop performance of her book “Just Ask!” Sotomayor didn’t specify what was included in the gift, but the theatre likely provided Sotomayor with accommodations to attend the performance.
While justices must report gifts over $480, the Obama appointee noted she received others that didn’t meet the threshold, including a set of books she later donated to the court.
Sotomayor reported attending a July 2024 concert where, due to security concerns, the venue exchanged her ticket for one of equal value.
Several justices reported travel reimbursements, all for official events, unlike Sotomayor’s gifted trip to Kansas City.
Jackson was reimbursed for 17 trips, primarily tied to her book promotion. Gorsuch received reimbursements for book events and teaching in Germany and Portugal.
Chief Justice Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, reported a reimbursed trip to Galway, Ireland, where he taught a course for New England Law. He noted no income, as he was compensated in February 2025.
Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, reported reimbursements for a speech at New York University, and Barrett was compensated for food and lodging during her teaching tenure.
Alito’s financial disclosure is expected to be released in the coming months.
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