Supreme Court Justices’ Lucrative Literary Ventures

Transparency reports released this week revealed significant earnings for three U.S. Supreme Court justices from their published works. The disclosures, covering eight of the nine justices, highlighted substantial income generated from book deals and royalties.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson leads the pack, reporting a staggering $2,068,750 book advance from Penguin Random House for her upcoming 2024 memoir, “Lovely One.” This substantial sum follows a $900,000 advance payment received in 2023. The memoir, detailing her life story, is eagerly anticipated given Justice Jackson’s recent appointment to the court in 2022.

Justice Neil Gorsuch also enjoyed considerable success, earning over $250,000 from royalties and book advances. His book, “Over Ruled: The Human Toll of Too Much Law,” published by HarperCollins last summer, explores his perspectives on government regulations. Adding to his income, Justice Gorsuch received approximately $30,000 in teaching fees from George Mason University.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s disclosures show earnings exceeding $130,000 from her literary endeavors. While specific details about her book deals weren’t included in the released information, the significant figure points towards substantial success in publishing.

These revelations underscore the diverse income streams of Supreme Court justices beyond their judicial salaries, offering a fascinating glimpse into their lives beyond the courtroom.