The Supreme Court has rejected President Trump's bid to overturn a jury verdict finding him liable for sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. This denial clears the path for Carroll to collect damages awarded by the jury.
Trump sought Supreme Court review hoping to delay payment and potentially reverse the lower court's decision. The Court's refusal to hear the case leaves the jury verdict intact. Carroll won a $83.3 million judgment against Trump in a May 2023 civil trial. A second jury trial in January 2024 added another $83 million verdict for defamation.
Combined, Carroll is now owed roughly $166 million from Trump personally. The former president has appealed the verdicts in lower courts and previously sought stays to pause payment obligations while litigation continues. The Supreme Court's rejection eliminates that avenue.
Trump faces immediate pressure to pay or post a bond covering the full judgment amount while further appeals proceed in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Courts typically require defendants to secure judgments through bonds or cash deposits before continuing appeals, though judges sometimes modify these requirements based on a defendant's ability to pay.
For Carroll, this represents a significant legal victory. She alleged Trump sexually assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s and defamed her when he publicly denied the allegations and questioned her credibility. Trump denies all claims.
The Supreme Court's decision reflects how thoroughly Trump exhausted his legal options at the highest court level. Lower courts now control the timeline for enforcement. Carroll's lawyers will likely push for immediate payment or bond posting.
This case differs from Trump's criminal trials and federal classified documents case. Those involve government prosecutions. Carroll's suits are civil matters where she seeks money damages, not criminal penalties. The financial obligation is enforceable through collection mechanisms available to winning parties in civil lawsuits.
The verdict stands firm. Trump must now