U.S. Supreme Court Denies Donald Trump Appeal in $5.6 Million E. Jean Carroll Defamation Verdict

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court of the United States issued an order list rejecting a petition for rehearing from Donald Trump, officially exhausting his legal challenges to a federal civil jury verdict awarding writer E. Jean Carroll $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for sexual abuse and defamation.

Final Judicial Action and Financial Disbursement

The high court's denial of certiorari in the case, known procedurally as Carroll II, terminates multi-year appellate litigation originating in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York:

• Finality of Judgment: The Supreme Court's order leaves intact the May 2023 jury verdict finding Trump liable under the New York Adult Survivors Act for battery and common-law defamation following public statements made in October 2022.
• Disbursement of Escrow Funds: While the petition for rehearing remained pending, federal court authorities confirmed that over $5.6 million—comprising the original $5.0 million jury award plus statutory post-judgment interest accrued at federal rates—was transferred to Carroll from a court-administered escrow account in July 2026.
• Separate Defamation Appeal: The ruling does not resolve Trump's separate pending federal appeal against an $83.3 million defamation verdict delivered by a different federal jury in January 2024, which is currently undergoing appellate review in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

"The Supreme Court's decision today brings finality to this matter and reaffirms that no individual, regardless of office, stands above the rule of law or the verdicts rendered by American juries," Carroll's legal team stated in a response filed with the federal clerk.

Legal Precedent and Presidential Liability

The procedural conclusion of Carroll II establishes a significant benchmark regarding civil liability for statements made while holding or seeking public office. Trump's defense attorneys had argued that presidential immunity shielded his public denials and that federal judges erred in admitting prior depositions. Both the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court rejected these arguments without noted dissents on the rehearing order.

Legal analysts highlighted that the finality of the payout eliminates any further stay requests on the $5.6 million award, leaving the judgment fully satisfied on federal court dockets.

Next Steps in Related Proceedings

Oral arguments in the Second Circuit regarding the separate $83.3 million judgment are scheduled for late autumn, where appellate judges will evaluate jury instructions and constitutional proportionality standards regarding punitive damages.