 The financial disclosures indicate that many of the justices have substantial stock holdings . This , in turn , has affected the business of the Court , as these holdings have led justices to recuse themselves from cases , occasionally with substantial impact . For example , in 2008 , the recusal of John Roberts in one case , and Samuel Alito in another , resulted in each ending in a 4 @-@ 4 split , which does not create a binding precedent . The Court was unable to decide another case in 2008 because four of the nine justices had conflicts , three arising from stock ownership in affected companies . 
