Justice Samuel Alito's wife Martha-Ann comes to fore after he claims she displayed US flag upside-down

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's spouse, Martha-Ann Alito, has come under scrutiny as the judge revealed that she was responsible for flying an upside-down American flag outside their Virginia residence following the 2020 presidential election, according to Newsweek.

An upside-down flag, which was used at the time by Donald Trump’s supporters to challenge the general election results that declared Joe Biden as the winner, was evidenced through photographs where it could be seen being displayed on Alito's lawn on January 17, 2021, as reported by The New York Times on Thursday.

Who is Martha-Ann Alito?

Martha-Ann Alito has occasionally appeared in news reports in the past.

There were allegations that she was involved in the unauthorized disclosure of the 2014 Supreme Court decision in the Burwell v Hobby Lobby Stores case before the Court had issued its ruling.

In this case, the justices ruled that corporations were not obligated to provide insurance covering certain forms of contraception to their employees if it conflicted with their religious beliefs.

The SCOTUS verdict was authored by Alito at the time.

According to a report by Politico, the leak was traced back to a family known to associate with the Alitos.

However, Martha-Ann Alito generally aims to maintain a low profile.

Formerly known as Martha-Ann Bomgardner, she was born in Kentucky and earned her degree from the University of Kentucky.

She later worked as a law librarian at a library where she met Alito, who was a law clerk at the time, as detailed by the US Sun newspaper.

The couple tied the knot in 1985 and have two children, Laura and Philip.

How did the report on Justice Alito’s improper US flag display affect cases he’s presiding over?

The New York Times report has spurred concerns regarding Justice Samuel Alito's ability to impartially adjudicate cases related to former President Donald Trump, including the imminent decision on whether the 77-year-old is shielded by presidential immunity from charges in his federal election subversion case.

Some have gone so far as to propose that Justice Alito must recuse himself from Trump-related cases due to the flag incident.

This controversy comes on the heels of demands for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to remove himself from Trump-related cases following his wife, Ginni Thomas, disclosing her attendance at the MAGA figurehead's Washington rally preceding the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Justice Samuel Alito, who penned the United States Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v Wade, disavowed any involvement in the display of the upside-down flag, as per a statement issued to the aforementioned outlet.

Instead, he attributed the act to his wife, Martha-Ann, who purportedly placed the flag in response to a dispute with a neighbor.

In a statement, Justice Samuel Alito claimed, "I had no involvement whatsoever in the flying of the flag.”

"It was briefly placed by Mrs. Alito in response to a neighbor's use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs," the conservative judge added.

Internet reacts as Martha-Ann Alito in spotlight after Justice Alito's claim

One X user remarked, "Does anyone believe that Alito’s wife did it without the agreement of Alito? Ridiculous."

Another user claimed, "This, of course, if you buy the story that “his wife did it.”"

Another user asked, "You don't actually believe that excuse, do you?"

One X user wrote, "All eyes on her, now."

Another user said, "Frightening to see this kind of extremism in people with this kind of access to power."

A user tweeted, "That she doesn't behave with the decorum one would wish for the wife of a SCOTUS justice is alarming. She has no self control. Was perturbed by a polisign that maligned Trump. And he didn't act in any immediate manner to remove the offensive symbol."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.