Supreme Court declines to hear Trump's challenge to Carroll verdict

Why it matters locally: The initial verdict against Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court declined to review, originated from a jury in New York. While the Supreme Court's decision itself is a national one, the case's legal proceedings and resolution directly involved the New York court system.

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The Supreme Court declined to hear Donald Trump's challenge to a $5 million sexual abuse verdict handed down against him in a case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The justices rejected the appeal through a brief, unexplained order issued without public comment. The court provided no reasoning for the decision, which follows standard practice when the justices decline to review a case. Carroll sued Trump over allegations he sexually abused her in the 1990s. A jury in New York found the former president liable for sexual abuse and defamation in May 2023, awarding Carroll $5 million in damages. Trump has maintained his innocence and disputed the verdict. The former president sought Supreme Court review of the judgment, asking the justices to overturn the lower court's decision. With the justices' rejection of that petition, the $5 million award stands absent further legal action. The Supreme Court receives thousands of petitions each year and accepts only a small fraction for full review. When the court declines to hear a case, it does not indicate agreement or disagreement with the lower court ruling.