A federal appeals court has declined to reconsider former President Donald Trump’s challenge to an $83 million jury award in favor of E. Jean Carroll, marking another major step in their long-running legal battle.
In a split decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit refused to grant an “en banc” review, meaning the full panel of judges will not revisit the case. The ruling clears the path for Trump to take his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The dispute stems from a 2022 jury verdict that found Trump defamed Carroll when he publicly denied her sexual assault allegations, claimed she was not his type, and accused her of fabricating the story to promote her book. Jurors awarded Carroll $83 million in damages.
Trump’s legal team has argued that his statements were made in his official capacity as president and that the U.S. Department of Justice should have been substituted as the defendant — a move that could have ended the case since the federal government cannot be sued for defamation. However, the appeals court previously rejected that argument, ruling Trump had waived immunity and that a 2024 Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity did not change the outcome.
The case is part of a broader legal fight between Trump and Carroll that spans several years and multiple trials. In a separate 2023 case, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation related to an alleged 1990s incident, awarding Carroll $5 million.
While the majority of judges upheld the earlier ruling, three judges dissented, arguing the case raised significant constitutional questions about presidential immunity that warranted further review.
Carroll’s attorney said she hopes the decision brings the case closer to a final resolution, while Trump’s team indicated they plan to continue the legal battle.
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