US Supreme Court Rejects Donald Trump’s Final Appeal in E. Jean Carroll Civil Sex Abuse Case
Washington, D.C. | June 30, 2026
US Supreme Court Ends Trump’s Final Appeal
The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear President Donald Trump’s final appeal in the civil case brought by writer and former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, leaving intact the $5 million judgment awarded to her by a federal jury.
The Supreme Court announced on June 29, 2026, that it would not review Trump’s appeal. As is customary, the Court did not provide a reason for declining the case. The decision means that the rulings of the lower federal courts remain in force, effectively bringing Trump’s legal challenge in this case to an end.
What Was the Case About?
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations made by E. Jean Carroll, who said Donald Trump sexually assaulted her inside the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City during the mid-1990s.
Trump consistently denied the allegation, calling Carroll’s account false and maintaining that the incident never occurred.
Carroll later filed civil lawsuits, arguing that Trump’s public denials defamed her by portraying her as dishonest and damaging her reputation.
In May 2023, a federal jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. The jury did not find him liable for the legal definition of rape under New York law, but it concluded that he had sexually abused her and later defamed her through his public statements. The jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages.
Supreme Court Rejects Final Appeal
Following the verdict, Trump appealed through the federal court system, arguing that legal errors affected the trial.
However, on June 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his final appeal, allowing the lower court’s judgment to stand. As a result, the $5 million civil award remains legally enforceable.
Because this was a civil case, not a criminal prosecution, Trump was not convicted of a crime, fined by the government, or sentenced to prison. Instead, the court determined that he was legally liable under the civil standard of proof and ordered him to pay financial damages to Carroll.
A Separate Defamation Case Is Still Ongoing
The Supreme Court’s latest decision applies only to the $5 million judgment.
Trump is separately appealing an $83.3 million defamation judgment awarded to Carroll in another civil case arising from additional statements he made after she first went public with her allegations. That appeal remains pending.
Legal and Political Significance
The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear the appeal marks the end of one of the highest-profile civil legal battles involving President Trump. While the Court’s decision does not establish a new legal precedent, it leaves the jury’s findings and the $5 million judgment fully in place.
Trump has continued to deny all allegations and has described the lawsuits as politically motivated. Carroll and her legal team welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, saying it brings finality to this phase of the case.
With the U.S. Supreme Court declining to review the case, Donald Trump’s final appeal has been exhausted. The $5 million civil judgment in favor of E. Jean Carroll remains in effect, closing this chapter of a case that has drawn international attention and significant public debate. A separate appeal involving an $83.3 million defamation award continues through the courts.
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