In a significant legal development, the United States Supreme Court has once again declined to review Donald Trump’s appeal concerning a jury’s ruling that found him liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of writer E. Jean Carroll. This decision, announced on 17 August 2026, confirms the $5 million civil judgment against the former president, which now stands final and unassailable.
A Definitive Ruling
The Supreme Court’s latest order was delivered without elaboration, simply listing Trump’s petition among others under the category of “rehearings denied.” This unwavering stance from the highest court in the land ensures that the unanimous verdict reached by the jury in 2023 remains intact. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll’s attorney, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating, “We are pleased that the United States Supreme Court has declined again to hear this case. As a result, the jury’s unanimous verdict that Donald Trump sexually assaulted and then defamed E. Jean Carroll is now final and cannot be challenged in any court.”
Trump’s legal team initially sought a review of the verdict in 2025, arguing against the jury’s findings. However, following the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the case in June, Trump’s lawyers made an additional attempt for reconsideration, which was ultimately denied.
Financial Implications for Trump
The ruling preserves the civil judgment of $5 million awarded to Carroll following a two-week trial in 2023. Notably, Trump had deposited the entire sum, including interest, into a court-controlled account shortly after the jury’s decision. Following the Supreme Court’s first denial of his appeal in July, a Manhattan federal judge ordered the release of the funds, with Carroll’s legal team confirming that the total amount disbursed to her had reached approximately $5.6 million.
In 2024, a three-judge panel from the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan also upheld the jury’s findings, indicating a consistent judicial support for Carroll’s claims against Trump.
Continued Legal Battles
In addition to the civil case, Carroll pursued a separate defamation lawsuit against Trump, stemming from comments he made in 2019. In a significant ruling, a federal jury ordered Trump to pay Carroll $83.3 million in damages for defamation in 2024. Trump’s legal representatives are currently appealing this decision to the Supreme Court, but it is reported that the court is not expected to address this appeal until later this year.
The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the Supreme Court’s latest decision, leaving the administration’s position on the matter unclear.
Why it Matters
This ruling not only reinforces the verdict against Trump and affirms E. Jean Carroll’s claims but also highlights the ongoing complexities of legal accountability for public figures. The dismissal of Trump’s appeal by the Supreme Court marks a pivotal moment in the broader discourse on sexual assault, defamation, and the implications of power dynamics in the legal system. The outcomes of these cases could set important precedents for future actions against high-profile individuals, potentially reshaping the landscape of accountability in the realm of public service and beyond.
