Supreme Court upholds $5M verdict in Trump-E Jean Carroll case

The update

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear Donald Trump’s final appeal of a civil case brought by writer E Jean Carroll. The decision means the $5 million judgment against Trump—awarded by a New York jury in 2023 for sexual abuse and defamation—stands. The justices rejected Trump’s arguments that the trial judge improperly allowed evidence of past allegations to influence the verdict. The ruling effectively enforces the jury’s findings and closes the door on Trump’s bid to overturn the damages.

Why it matters

This ruling marks a significant legal milestone. It enforces a jury verdict against a sitting president, affirming that civil liabilities can proceed even while a president is in office. The decision sets a precedent that the Supreme Court will not intervene to overturn a lower court’s ruling based on claims of improper evidence admission. For Carroll, the ruling affirms the jury’s unanimous findings, while for Trump, it represents a final legal defeat in this specific case.

What to watch

Trump has indicated he will continue to fight the case, calling it a “weaponization” of the legal system. The $5 million judgment is separate from a separate defamation verdict that ordered Trump to pay an additional $83 million. It remains to be seen how this ruling will influence Trump’s legal strategy in other ongoing civil cases.

Sources

• Al Jazeera — Core facts of the Supreme Court's decision and the $5M verdict details.
• BBC — Context on the timeline of the case and Trump's reaction to the ruling.