The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Donald Trump's attempt to overturn a $5 million [1] jury verdict in the E. Jean Carroll case.
The ruling maintains a significant financial penalty against the former president and affirms the legal standing of the findings regarding sexual abuse and defamation. This decision prevents the immediate dismissal of the judgment, ensuring the legal process regarding the payout remains active.
The court's decision came on June 29, 2026 [2], after Trump sought to have the verdict tossed. The legal challenge aimed to void the $5 million [1] award granted to Carroll, a writer who accused Trump of sexual abuse and subsequent defamation.
In its reasoning, the court said the case was not moot because the $5 million [1] judgment had not been satisfied. Because the funds have not been paid, the court said the appeal could not be dismissed at this stage.
The verdict stems from a civil trial that found Trump liable for the abuse and the defamatory statements he made about Carroll. The legal battle has spanned several years, moving through various levels of the judiciary before reaching the highest court in the land.
Trump has consistently contested the validity of the claims and the resulting financial penalties. However, the Supreme Court's refusal to intervene on Monday means the previous court's findings remain in effect, leaving the $5 million [1] obligation outstanding.
“The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Donald Trump's attempt to overturn a $5 million jury verdict.”
The Supreme Court's refusal to dismiss the case on the grounds of mootness ensures that the legal liability for the $5 million judgment remains active. By confirming that the unsatisfied payment keeps the case live, the court has effectively blocked a procedural shortcut that would have erased the verdict without a full review of the merits.
