Supreme Court Will Not Overturn Civil Sexual Abuse and Defamation Verdict Against President

According to a report from NBC News, the Supreme Court of the United States will not overturn the $5 million civil sexual abuse and defamation verdict that Jean Carroll obtained against President Donald Trump. The nation’s highest court declined to hear President Trump’s appeal of the 2023 verdict. Here, our West Palm Beach civil sexual assault attorney provides an overview of the decision.

Background: An Overview of the Original Civil Lawsuit

The underlying case was filed based on a claim brought by writer E. Jean Carroll against President Donald Trump. Ms. Carroll alleged that President Trump sexually abused her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s and later defamed her when he denied the allegations and made public statements about her. In 2023, a federal jury in New York found Trump civilly liable for sexual abuse and defamation and awarded Ms. Carroll $5 million in damages. To be clear, this was a civil case, not a criminal prosecution. That means the jury applied a civil burden of proof, not the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal court.

What the Supreme Court Did (and Did Not) Decide

The United States Supreme Court declined to hear Trump’s appeal. In technical terms, the Court denied certiorari. That matters because a denial of certiorari is not the same thing as a written Supreme Court decision affirming every aspect of the lower court’s reasoning. The Court did not issue a merits opinion, did not hold oral argument, and did not announce a new rule of law. Instead, by declining review, the Court left the lower court judgment in place. Practically, that means the $5 million civil judgment remains enforceable.

Understanding the Reasons Why the Supreme Court Declines to Hear an Appeal

The Supreme Court receives far more petitions than it can hear. A denial of certiorari usually means that fewer than four justices voted to take the case, not that the Court necessarily agreed with the lower court’s reasoning. As a general rule, the nation’s highest court does not give specific reasoning as to why it declined to review a case. The Court is more likely to grant review when a case presents a major federal question, a conflict among federal appellate courts or state high courts, or an issue of exceptional national importance. By contrast, a case that turns mainly on fact-specific evidentiary rulings, application of settled law, or record-specific trial management issues may be less likely to receive review.

Call Our West Palm Beach Civil Sexual Assault Lawyer Today

At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our West Palm Beach civil sexual assault attorney has the experience that victims can rely on. If you have any questions about the civil legal claims process for sexual misconduct, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. Our firm handles civil sexual assault claims throughout South Florida, including in Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, and Broward County.

Source:

nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rejects-trump-effort-overturn-e-jean-carroll-sexual-assa-rcna256546