Justice Samuel Alito’s explicit August 2026 statement to the Wall Street Journal that he intends to serve another Supreme Court term has anchored trader expectations against an imminent retirement announcement. The comment followed an erroneous late-June NPR report claiming his departure, which the outlet quickly retracted after the Court confirmed no such announcement existed. At age 76, Alito remains subject to periodic speculation alongside Clarence Thomas, particularly among some conservatives seeking additional lifetime appointments during a favorable Senate window. No subsequent statements, health updates, or procedural signals have altered that stance as the new term approaches in October. Market pricing reflects the absence of verifiable catalysts for a September or near-term exit while acknowledging that justices control their own timing and unexpected developments could still intervene before any specific resolution date.