Alito in talk to law students mum on leak, says told self was subject he wasn't going to talk about

Justice Samuel Alito on Thursday  briefly addressed the status of the Supreme Court amid ongoing controversy surrounding the draft leak of his opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade in just a few weeks.

Alito, speaking virtually to law students at George Mason's Antonin Scalia Law School, was asked by a student following the speech, "I think it would just be really helpful for all of us to hear, personally, are you all doing OK in these very challenging times?"

Altio replied: "This is a subject I told myself I wasn’t going to talk about today regarding, you know – given all the circumstances."

However, he gave an update on what the court's nine justice have done in recent days. 

"The court right now, we had our conference this morning, we’re doing our work," Alito also said. "We’re taking new cases, we’re headed toward the end of the term, which is always a frenetic time as we get our opinions out."

Thursday was the first time the justices convened following the draft leak and the announcement from Chief Justice John Roberts that an investigation would be opened into the unprecedented occurrence. 

In the wake of the leak, abortion rights activists have gathered to protest in front of the houses of some justices, primarily the five who, according to the draft opinion, voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.

On Monday evening, there was a significant protest in front of Alito's home. Security has been ramped up for all nine justices following the leak, and Congress is currently mulling a bill that would install increased security for their immediate family members.