NATIONAL NEWS

Royalties. Teaching gigs. A concert in Puerto Rico. Financial forms offer view inside Supreme Court

Jun 29, 2026, 11:52 AM

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen Monday, June 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)Credit...

The U.S. Supreme Court is seen Monday, June 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Credit: AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib

(AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was gifted concert tickets in Puerto Rico last year as members of the high court continued to accept international teaching gigs and receive royalties for books they have written, according to financial disclosure forms released Monday that provide insight into how the justices spend time off the bench.

Sotomayor’s disclosure form says she and unidentified guests attended the concert last August while she was on a personal trip to Puerto Rico. The paperwork does not identify the performer, but Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny is known to have performed a series of shows on the island that month and the $4,333 gift she disclosed was provided by Rimas Entertainment, Bad Bunny’s record label.

The justices’ ethical practices away from the court have received additional scrutiny in recent years because of media coverage, including by The Associated Press, that has highlighted their lucrative book deals, gifts they have received and travel they have taken. Among the revelations was a series of stories by ProPublica that revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had failed to report luxury travel paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow.

The forms underscore the extent to which book-writing remains a lucrative source of income for members of the court.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who in 2024 released a memoir titled “Lovely One,” disclosed nearly $1.2 million in book advances, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett reported more than $849,000 in royalties. They both reported more than a dozen book events or discussions at which a combination of food, travel or lodging was provided. Justice Neil Gorsuch also received $300,000 in royalty payments.

Several justices also disclosed paid teaching assignments. Chief Justice John Roberts, for instance, reported $25,000 in teaching income for a brief course at New England Law School, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh received $33,285 for teaching at Notre Dame.

Kavanaugh also delivered a speech last September — his meals, transportation and lodging were provided — at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, which the AP earlier reported had invited Thomas to headline a 2017 event.

The court released disclosure forms for eight of the nine current justices. Justice Samuel Alito, as he has previously done, requested a 90-day extension, the court said.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

National News

FILE - A federal agent wears an Immigration and Customs Enforcement badge in New York, June 10, 202...

Associated Press

ICE officer lied about shovel and broom attack before Minnesota shooting, Justice Department alleges

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer falsely told investigators he was being attacked with a broom and shovel before he shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during the Minnesota immigration crackdown last winter, according to a federal indictment unsealed Friday. Christian Castro is charged with six counts of making false […]

23 minutes ago

A Tesla Cybercab moves through downtown Austin, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)...

Associated Press

Feds open probe into Musk’s steering-wheel-free taxis a day after he began offering rides in them

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal regulators are opening an investigation into whether Tesla’s new steering-wheel-free taxis comply with safety rules a day after the company began offering rides in the vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was looking into whether Tesla was in full compliance with federal rules in deploying so-called Cybercabs […]

43 minutes ago

Associated Press

US issues sanctions on Turkish bank that it calls a ‘critical financial lifeline’ for Iran

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury announced Friday it has imposed sanctions on a Turkish financial institution as part of its latest effort to sever “critical financial lifelines” for the Iranian government. The actions against Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi come nearly a week after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced “Operation Economic Outcast” as […]

47 minutes ago

FILE - Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Off...

Associated Press

Internal watchdog report: Former Labor Secretary oversaw hostile work environment, misused funds

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer oversaw a “toxic, intimidating and humiliating” work environment and engaged in numerous violations of department policy, according to a new report from the department’s Office of Inspector General. The report includes allegations that Chavez-DeRemer “engaged in an inappropriate relationship” with a member of her security detail […]

1 hour ago

FILE - This photo provided by NASA shows Kieran Wilson, LINK's principal investigator, and Hunter R...

Associated Press

Rescue satellite gets close to NASA’s doomed telescope, even if it can’t save it

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A private spacecraft that was supposed to supply a lifeline to NASA’s Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos more than a week after the rescue was abandoned. But the three-armed robotic salvager had to turn away because of low fuel, according to […]

2 hours ago

FILE - Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin listens as President Donald Trump s...

Associated Press

EPA seeks more public comments as it struggles to devise water rule that limits scope on wetlands

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking additional public comments as it tries to redefine the scope of the nation’s bedrock clean water law to significantly limit the wetlands it covers. The request, announced Friday, comes nearly a year after the agency proposed a rule defining “waters of the United States,” or WOTUS, […]

2 hours ago

Royalties. Teaching gigs. A concert in Puerto Rico. Financial forms offer view inside Supreme Court