Only one U.S. Supreme Court justice pared down his individual stock holdings in 2009, according to annual financial disclosures released Friday.

Justice Stephen Breyer closed his positions in three companies last year, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA, TEVA.TV), a frequent participant in patent litigation. Breyer sold between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of shares in the generic-drug maker, likely clearing him to participate in cases involving the company. Teva has had business before the high court in recent years and Breyer has recused himself from those matters, presumably because of his stock holdings.

Breyer's 2009 sales came after he unloaded 15 stock investments in 2008, allowing him to participate in some cases that he would otherwise have sat out.

Breyer also sold some, but not all, of his shares in three other companies in 2009, Nokia Corp. (NOK, NOK1V.HE), Lowe's Cos. (LOW) and Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX). He would still be required to sit out cases involving those companies.

Breyer continues to hold shares in a number of companies that could have business before the court, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO).

While Breyer was selling individual shares, one justice, Antonin Scalia, added company shares to his portfolio, buying between $15,000 and $50,000 worth of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKB) Class B shares, according to his financial-disclosure report.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito are the other two justices who hold shares in individual companies, prompting occasional recusals due to financial conflicts. Neither sold shares in 2009.

Roberts' portfolio includes shares of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT), Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Intel Corp. (INTC). Alito continues to own between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of stock in Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), despite the fact that the company regularly appears before the court.

Supreme Court justices must file annual disclosure reports detailing their financial activities, public speeches and outside income over the past calendar year. A majority of justices are millionaires, but most don't invest in individual stocks.

Justices can take advantage of a special tax break to spread out the cost of selling their investments.

-By Brent Kendall, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9222; brent.kendall@dowjones.com