Martha-Ann Alito, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, has recently found herself in the spotlight after an upside-down American flag, a symbol embraced by election deniers, was flown outside their home in Alexandria, Virginia. This incident occurred just days after the Capitol riot in January 2021.
Ms. Alito, who has maintained a relatively low profile since her husband joined the Supreme Court in 2006, told The Washington Post that the flag was raised as an “international signal of distress” in response to a neighborhood disagreement.
The couple’s move to Washington from New Jersey, where Ms. Alito had left her career as a librarian to focus on homemaking, marked a significant change for them. Despite facing scrutiny during Justice Alito’s confirmation hearings, Ms. Alito has been critical of the attention their family received.
Born to an air traffic controller in the Air Force and a librarian mother, Ms. Alito attended the University of Kentucky and worked as a librarian in New Jersey before meeting Justice Alito in the law library. They married in 1985.
While Ms. Alito has mostly worked on apolitical issues and for charities in Washington, recent incidents involving the flag at their homes and allegations of harassment have brought her back into the public eye.
Despite the challenges and controversies, Ms. Alito remains steadfast in her support for her husband and their family, emphasizing the importance of faith, love, and unity in navigating difficult times.