Childhood and Education Journey of Samuel Alito in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Samuel Alito. A timeline of key moments.

Samuel Alito is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, nominated by President George W. Bush and serving since 2006. He is the second Italian American justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1913: Antonino Alati's Immigration to Philadelphia

In 1913, Antonino Alati (later anglicized to Anthony Alito), Samuel Alito's paternal grandfather, sailed from Italy to Philadelphia aboard the SS Ancona.

1914: Births of Alito's Parents

In 1914, both of Samuel Alito's parents, Samuel A. Alito Sr. (born Salvatore Alati) and Rose Fradusco, were born. Samuel A. Alito Sr. was a Calabrian immigrant, and Rose Fradusco was an Italian-American.

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April 1, 1950: Samuel Alito Jr. Born

On April 1, 1950, Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. was born. He is currently an American jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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1964: Barry Goldwater's Presidential Campaign

In his 1985 application for Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Samuel Alito named Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign as a major influence, along with William F. Buckley, Jr., and the National Review. He also expressed concern about Warren Court decisions.

1968: Graduation from Steinert High School

In 1968, Samuel Alito graduated from Steinert High School as the class valedictorian before attending Princeton University.

December 1969: Low Lottery Number in Selective Service Drawing

In December 1969, while a sophomore at Princeton, Samuel Alito received a low lottery number of 32 in the Selective Service drawing. He subsequently became a member of the school's Army ROTC program.

1971: Chaired Student Conference on Privacy

In 1971, while at Princeton, Samuel Alito chaired a student conference titled "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society". The conference supported curbs on domestic intelligence gathering and anticipated the need for a statute to oversee national security surveillance. It also called for decriminalizing sodomy and ending discrimination against gay people in hiring.

1972: Graduation from Princeton University

In 1972, Samuel Alito graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. His senior thesis was titled "An Introduction to the Italian Constitutional Court".

1972: Commissioned as Second Lieutenant

In 1972, Samuel Alito was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.

1972: Graduation Year Book Wish

In 1972, upon graduating Princeton, Samuel Alito wrote in his yearbook that he hoped to "eventually warm a seat on the Supreme Court".

1975: Began Military Duty

In 1975, Samuel Alito began his military duty after graduating from law school. He served on active duty from September to December while attending the Signal Officer Basic Course at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

1975: Earned Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

In 1975, Samuel Alito earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School, where he also served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal.

1980: Honorably Discharged from Inactive Reserve

In 1980, Samuel Alito completed his service obligation as a member of the inactive reserve and was honorably discharged.

1985: Marriage to Martha-Ann Bomgardner

In 1985, Alito married Martha-Ann Bomgardner, a law librarian who met him during his trips to the library as a law clerk. They have two children.

1999: Adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law

From 1999 to 2004, Alito was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, teaching courses in constitutional law and an original course on terrorism and civil liberties.

July 1, 2005: Justice O'Connor Announces Retirement

On July 1, 2005, Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement from the Supreme Court, effective upon the confirmation of a successor.

May 25, 2007: Commencement address at Seton Hall Law

On May 25, 2007, Alito delivered the commencement address at Seton Hall Law's commencement ceremony and received an honorary law degree from the school.

2011: Visiting professor at Duke University School of Law

In fall 2011, Alito was a visiting professor at Duke University School of Law, where he taught Current Issues in Constitutional Interpretation.

2012: Visiting professor at Duke University School of Law

In summer 2012, Alito was a visiting professor at Duke University School of Law, teaching a course in the Master of Laws in Judicial Studies program.

November 12, 2020: Comments about the COVID-19 pandemic

On November 12, 2020, Alito made headlines for comments about the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to the Federalist Society, Alito criticized what he called the "loss of individual liberties", saying, "We have never before seen restrictions as severe, extensive and prolonged as those experienced for most of 2020" and calling the pandemic "a Constitutional stress test".