Supreme Court declines to hear appeal.
The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered another major legal setback to Donald Trump, declining to hear his appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case and leaving in place a $5 million civil verdict against him.
The decision means the justices will not revisit the lower court rulings that upheld the jury’s finding against Trump.
The Court gave no explanation for refusing the appeal, which is standard when it denies review. No public dissent was noted in available reporting.
Background of the Carroll case
The case stems from allegations made by writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s in a Manhattan department store dressing room. Trump has consistently denied the allegation, calling it false.
Carroll later sued, arguing that Trump’s public denials damaged her reputation. In 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
Lower courts upheld the verdict.
After the jury decision, Trump’s legal team appealed, arguing that the trial was unfair and that certain evidence should not have been allowed. However, lower courts rejected those arguments and upheld the verdict.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to take the case leaves those lower court rulings fully intact, meaning the $5 million judgment remains legally binding.
What the Supreme Court decision means
The ruling does not involve a criminal conviction. The case was civil, meaning the jury applied a lower standard of proof than in criminal trials.
Still, the decision is significant because it preserves a formal court finding against a former president in a highly publicized case involving allegations of sexual misconduct and defamation.
Trump’s response to the decision
Trump reacted strongly after the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, calling it a “Fake Case” and describing it as part of political “lawfare” against him. He continues to deny Carroll’s allegations and insists the trial was unfair.
Carroll’s legal victory
Carroll’s legal team welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. Her attorney described it as confirmation that the jury’s verdict will stand and cannot be overturned on this appeal.
For Carroll, the ruling represents a major legal milestone after years of litigation.
Other ongoing legal battles
The Supreme Court’s refusal does not end all litigation between the two parties. A separate defamation case involving Carroll resulted in a much larger $83.3 million judgment against Trump in 2024.
That case is still being contested and may also be appealed further.
Broader political and legal impact
The decision arrives at a time when Trump continues to face multiple legal challenges that intersect with his political career. Supporters argue the cases are politically motivated, while critics see them as a form of accountability through the courts.
The Supreme Court’s move does not create a new legal precedent, but it allows the lower court decision to stand without further review.
Final outcome of this appeal
In simple terms, the Supreme Court did not issue a ruling on the merits of the case. Instead, it chose not to hear it at all.
That decision leaves the $5 million verdict intact, closing this specific avenue of appeal and marking another legal defeat for Trump in the Carroll litiga
