By Breaking News Reporter 
The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear President Donald Trump’s appeal in the civil lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The decision leaves a jury’s finding in place that held Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. The Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict now stands after years of legal challenges.
Supreme Court Declines Final Appeal
By refusing to review the case, the Supreme Court allowed the lower court ruling to remain unchanged. This marked the end of Trump’s appeal in the first civil case involving Carroll.
Carroll celebrated the decision by posting “WE WON!” on her Substack page and called the outcome a victory for women around the world. Her legal team said the ruling ends Trump’s efforts to overturn the jury’s decision. The Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict now remains the final outcome of the case.
Jury Found Trump Liable in 2023
A federal jury in 2023 concluded that the evidence showed Trump was liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll over an encounter she said happened in a New York City department store during the mid 1990s. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages after deliberating for less than three hours.
Trump did not attend the trial, and his legal team did not call any witnesses before the jury reached its decision. Throughout the case, Trump denied Carroll’s allegations and argued the claims were not credible. Even so, the Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict remains unchanged after multiple appeals.
Appeals Came Up Short
Trump challenged the verdict before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that testimony from other women and additional evidence should not have been presented to the jury. The appeals court rejected those arguments and later declined to rehear the case before the full court.
With the Supreme Court choosing not to hear the appeal, the Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict remains legally binding. As is common practice, the justices did not provide an explanation for declining the case.
Judge Clarified the Jury’s Finding
During the trial, Carroll’s attorneys argued that the evidence showed a pattern of behavior. Jurors heard testimony from other women who alleged similar conduct by Trump. They also heard from witnesses who said Carroll spoke about the incident shortly after it happened and viewed the well known Access Hollywood recording introduced during the trial.
Although the jury rejected Carroll’s claim that she was raped under New York law, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan later addressed the verdict in a written opinion. Kaplan later wrote that the conclusion that Mr. Trump was liable for sexually abusing Carroll by forcefully inserting his fingers was an “implicit determination that Mr. Trump digitally raped her.”
That clarification became part of the legal record as the case moved through the appeals process. The Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict ultimately remained in place after every court reviewing the case declined to overturn it.
Another Carroll Case Continues
Trump is also appealing a separate federal jury verdict from January 2024 that found him liable for making additional defamatory statements about Carroll. In that case, the jury awarded Carroll $83 million in damages.
While Trump has indicated he wants the Supreme Court to review that case as well, the first civil lawsuit has now reached its conclusion. The Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict closes one of the highest profile civil cases involving the president.
A Significant Legal Milestone
The Supreme Court’s decision ends years of appeals surrounding the first civil lawsuit between Carroll and Trump. Carroll’s legal victory remains intact, while Trump continues to deny the allegations and challenge the separate defamation judgment.
The Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict represents the final outcome of the first case and is expected to remain a significant legal and political milestone. As the separate defamation appeal continues, the Supreme Court E. Jean Carroll verdict will likely continue to be referenced as one of the most closely watched civil rulings involving a sitting and former president.