For the second time, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a federal civil case against former President Donald Trump, upholding a jury verdict that found he sexually assaulted and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll.
The case culminated in a jury decision that awarded Carroll more than $5 million in damages. Trump, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, argued that the judge presiding over the trial had improperly admitted evidence that could have misled the jurors.
In its March ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed Trump’s earlier appeal, and this week it reaffirmed that dismissal. The Court’s order was issued as part of its docket for the week, without giving reasons for the refusal to reconsider the case.
Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said the decision was a victory for victims of sexual abuse and defamation, noting the judgment was “unanimous, final, and cannot be challenged.”
Legal scholars have described Trump’s attempt to revisit the case as a rare, long‑shot maneuver, noting the Supreme Court rarely grants relief once it has dismissed a petition. The ruling effectively closes the case in federal courts, although related criminal investigations remain unresolved.
Trump’s team has not yet issued a comment on the Court’s latest decision, but the President has previously promised to continue contesting the judgment through other avenues, as he appears to consider the ruling “weaponisation and lawfare.”
