The United States Supreme Court on Monday declined to review Donald Trump's challenge to a New York jury's 2023 verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll and subsequently defaming her. The decision, issued without explanation or noted dissents, leaves the $5 million civil judgment against the former president intact.
Court Ruling and Legal History
The Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case follows a 2024 ruling by a three-judge panel of the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan, which upheld the jury's verdict and rejected Trump's arguments that the trial was unfair. Trump had contended that the presiding judge improperly allowed jurors to hear evidence of his alleged past sexual misconduct. In 2025, Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the verdict, while Carroll's lawyers urged the justices to deny the request.
Background of the Case
E Jean Carroll, a former advice columnist for Elle magazine, first made her allegations public in 2019 when she published an excerpt from her memoir claiming that Trump raped her in the 1990s in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan. Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations and accused Carroll of fabricating the story. Carroll filed the lawsuit three years after the excerpt was published.
The 2023 trial resulted in a jury finding Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has characterized the legal actions as politically motivated.
Separate Defamation Case
In addition to the $5 million judgment, Carroll secured a separate defamation victory against Trump in 2024, when a Manhattan jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million in damages for defaming her in 2019. Trump's legal team is currently appealing that ruling and has indicated they will seek Supreme Court review of that case as well. In September 2024, a federal appeals court upheld the $83.3 million award.
Trump is challenging the $83 million judgment on multiple grounds, including claims of “absolute immunity” for statements he made about Carroll while serving as president, according to the Associated Press.
Financial Implications
In May 2025, a federal appeals court ruled that Trump would not be required to pay the $83.3 million judgment until the Supreme Court either reviews the case or declines to hear it. However, the court also ordered Trump to increase his bond by $7.46 million to cover interest that would accrue on the award during the ongoing appeals process.
The Supreme Court's decision to reject the appeal in the $5 million case marks a significant legal setback for Trump, as it upholds the jury's finding of liability and leaves the monetary judgment in place.
