Justice Alito's finances explain his recusals

[Divernan]

10. The probability that his wife would inherit her father's stocks is a near certainty.

Families which have accumulated a lot of wealth guard it quite aggressively with the primary purpose of passing it on to succeeding generations. My extended family was modestly wealthy, and, especially as the patriarch aged, the next generation (my parents') was quite involved in making sure that the wealth was preserved for the benefit of first of all, his widow, and next, the following generation. The goal was to live off the dividends/interest/ etc., but never, never, never to touch the capital.

I am puzzled by the vehemence of your reply, i.e., "complete and utter BS".

I am not targeting only Alito on this matter, but any Judge hearing a case in which his or her close family members have financial investments in one of the parties. When a trial lawyer voir dires (that is, questions) potential jurors, we definitely ask about the juror's relatives including siblings, in-laws, parents and kids - not just spouses, in determining if there is a conflict of interest which would unfairly influence a juror's decision. When we depose or cross-examine witnesses, we also check out their family members' re contact with the case or any of the parties in the case.