Supreme Court to Review Trump’s Challenge to $5 Million E. Jean Carroll Verdict
Supreme Court Considers Trump’s Appeal in E. Jean Carroll Case
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to review a significant legal challenge. Donald Trump has asked the justices to consider his appeal. He is challenging a $5 million verdict. A jury awarded this sum to E. Jean Carroll. Trump was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation in a civil trial.
E. Jean Carroll’s Lawsuit and Verdict
E. Jean Carroll first publicly accused Donald Trump in 2019. She alleged sexual assault in a Manhattan department store. This incident reportedly occurred in the 1990s. Trump consistently denied these claims. He called Carroll a liar.
Carroll filed two lawsuits. The first was for defamation. The second, filed in 2022, included battery claims. This second suit utilized New York’s Adult Survivors Act. This law allowed claims beyond the typical statute of limitations. A jury heard the second case in April 2023.
After deliberations, the jury ruled. They found Trump liable for sexual abuse. They also found him liable for defamation. The defamation arose from his public denials. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages. However, the jury did not find Trump liable for rape. This was based on a specific legal definition used in the trial.
Trump’s Arguments for Supreme Court Review
Following the verdict, Trump appealed. He argued the lower courts made serious evidentiary errors. His petition to the Supreme Court focuses on these claims. Trump’s legal team argues specific evidence should have been excluded.
This evidence included testimony. Two other women testified about their alleged encounters with Trump. Trump’s lawyers sought to bar this testimony. They contended it was improperly admitted. The infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was also presented. Trump argues its inclusion prejudiced the jury. His team claims admitting this evidence conflicts with rulings in other federal circuits. This alleged “circuit split” is a key legal argument for review.
Trump’s petition describes Carroll’s allegations as “facially implausible”. His attorneys also assert there was no physical evidence. They highlight the lack of eyewitnesses or a police report. They argue Carroll waited decades to file her claim, timing it for political impact. His team also suggested similarities to a “Law & Order” plotline.
Carroll’s Response and Lower Court Rulings
E. Jean Carroll’s legal team maintains Trump’s arguments are unfounded. Her attorney has expressed doubt about the Supreme Court’s interest in the case. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the $5 million verdict. It found no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s evidentiary decisions. The appeals court deemed the evidence admissible. It concluded any errors were harmless. The full Second Circuit later rejected Trump’s request for a rehearing.
Supreme Court’s Next Steps
The Supreme Court justices will meet soon. They are scheduled for a private conference on February 20, 2026. Trump’s petition will be considered during this meeting. The court could decide whether to grant review as early as February 23, 2026. However, the process often involves multiple conferences. A final decision might not be announced until March 2026.
Granting review would mean the Supreme Court would hear arguments. It would examine the evidentiary issues Trump raised. This outcome could impact future defamation cases and evidence rules. The matter remains a focus of recent news and legal analysis.
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