Supreme Court justices disclose millions in book income and outside pay
Eight justices filed disclosures showing more than $2 million in book payments, while Ketanji Brown Jackson alone reported a $1.18 million advance.
Eight of the nine Supreme Court justices filed annual financial disclosures after the May 15 deadline, and the forms showed more than $2 million in combined book payments in 2025. The filings, made under the Ethics in Government Act, are meant to flag outside income, gifts and possible conflicts of interest, not to provide a full accounting of wealth.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson disclosed the largest single payment, a $1.18 million book advance from Penguin Random House. That came on top of nearly $2.07 million in book advance income she reported for 2024, pushing her net book income from her time on the bench above $4 million. Jackson also reported a $2,500 painting gift for her chambers from Chicago artists Paul Branton and Kristen Williams.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor disclosed $88,100 in royalties from her children’s books, with part of the amount listed as net of literary-agent commission. She also reported concert tickets worth $4,333 from Rimas Entertainment for a private trip to Puerto Rico in August 2025. The filing did not name the performer, but Bad Bunny had a concert series in San Juan around that time.
Teaching income remained another visible source of outside pay. Chief Justice John Roberts disclosed $25,000 for a brief course at New England Law School. Justice Brett Kavanaugh disclosed $33,285 for teaching at Notre Dame Law School. Justice Amy Coney Barrett and Kavanaugh each earned $31,815 for adjunct teaching at Notre Dame in 2024, while Justice Neil Gorsuch taught at George Mason University, including stints cited in the records in Porto, Portugal, and Prague, Czech Republic.
Samuel Alito received a 90-day extension. The disclosures were due May 15, and justices and judges can receive extensions of up to 90 days. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts posts the filings online after they are submitted.
A Courthouse News tally put the court’s collective book earnings for 2025 at more than $2.4 million, with more than $13 million in advances and royalties over time after 2024. Gabe Roth, the director of Fix the Court, urged the judiciary to “think more critically” about the ethical pitfalls of allowing justices to earn millions from book deals.
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