US Supreme Court again rejects Trump’s request to overturn sex assault judgement
US Supreme Court again rejects Trump's appeal
Poinews.com – The US Supreme Court again rejects President Donald Trump's bid to overturn a jury verdict that found he sexually assaulted and defamed author E. Jean Carroll. For the second time, the nation's highest court has declined to take up the matter, offering no written explanation for its decision. The ruling effectively locks in the civil damages awarded to Carroll and closes another chapter in one of the most closely watched legal disputes of the decade.
Background of the Carroll Case
E. Jean Carroll, a former journalist, columnist, and law professor, first brought her account of a 1996 encounter with Trump to public attention through her 2019 memoir, What Do We Know. In the book, she described being sexually assaulted by Trump in a department-store dressing room. Trump publicly dismissed her story, telling reporters he had never met her and declaring:
"she's not my type."
He went on to insist the account was fabricated to drive book sales. Carroll subsequently filed a defamation suit in New York state court, arguing that Trump's repeated denials damaged her professional reputation and livelihood. The case quickly became a national story, drawing intense media scrutiny and political commentary from both sides of the aisle.
Trial Proceedings and Financial Outcomes
Carroll took the stand before two separate New York juries. The first jury, seated in the sexual-assault trial, found in her favour. The second jury, seated in the defamation action, concluded that Trump had both sexually assaulted her and defamed her through his public statements. That jury produced an $83 million (€71 million) defamation award, a figure that included both compensatory and punitive damages.
In the months following the verdict, Trump pursued appeals through New York's state appellate system. Last month, the president paid Carroll $5.6 million (€4.8 million) following the civil jury's findings, a payment that satisfied the compensatory portion of the award while the punitive component remained subject to further review.
The Supreme Court Challenge
In July, Trump and the Justice Department jointly petitioned the Supreme Court to reverse the $83 million defamation verdict. The court declined to hear the challenge without providing any stated rationale. This marks the second occasion on which the US Supreme Court again rejects the president's attempt to overturn damages awarded to Carroll at the highest judicial level. The justices' silence on the merits leaves the lower-court findings intact and signals that no majority of the court wished to disturb the outcome.
Legal analysts noted that the lack of a written opinion means the ruling carries no precedential weight beyond the specific case. It does not, however, prevent Carroll from collecting the full award or bar her from pursuing any remaining procedural questions within the New York state court system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did the Supreme Court decide? The court declined to grant certiorari, meaning it chose not to hear the case. No substantive legal question was resolved, and the lower-court verdict stands as written.
Why did the justices offer no explanation? When the Supreme Court denies certiorari, it typically issues a brief order without a full opinion. This is standard practice and does not indicate agreement or disagreement with the lower court's reasoning.
Can Trump appeal again? With the Supreme Court having twice declined review, further federal appellate avenues are exhausted. Any remaining questions would have to be addressed within the New York state court system, if procedural grounds exist.
What happens to the $83 million award? The compensatory portion has been satisfied by the $5.6 million payment. The punitive component remains enforceable, and Carroll's legal team has indicated it will pursue collection of the full judgment.