Supreme Court repeatedly delays Trump appeal in E. Jean Carroll case

The Supreme Court has placed former President Donald Trump’s appeal over a New York jury verdict in E. Jean Carroll’s sexual-assault and defamation case on its agenda for the 15th time, pushing the matter further into the term. The appeal, filed in November, seeks to overturn a $5 million verdict awarded to Carroll in a 2022 trial, while a separate 2019 case resulted in an $83 million judgment that is also expected to reach the high court soon.

Legal analysts noted that the court has offered no public explanation for the repeated rescheduling, suggesting the justices may be awaiting related appeals or drafting an opinion. "The oddity here isn’t just that the court has rescheduled one of the Carroll cases 15 times, it’s the absence of a persuasive justification for it having done so," said Steve Vladeck of Georgetown Law.

Carroll’s attorneys argue that the lower courts correctly admitted evidence, including the 2005 "Access Hollywood" tape, which they say was relevant to the jury’s findings. Trump’s lawyers contend the trial judge erred in allowing that evidence and maintain that the allegations are false.

The delay has effectively postponed enforcement of the $5 million judgment, which, with interest, brings Trump’s total liability to over $100 million. A Supreme Court spokesperson declined to comment, and Carroll’s counsel did not respond to requests for comment.