Writer E. Jean Carroll has asked a federal judge in New York to require President Donald Trump to pay a $5.8 million judgment after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal in the case. The filing, made Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, follows a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in 1996 and defaming her after she went public with the allegation in 2019.

For Chattanooga readers following national court rulings that can affect politics and public institutions, the immediate consequence is that the damages award remains in force unless a court orders otherwise. The case is a civil matter, not a criminal prosecution, and the latest step concerns collection of money awarded by the jury.

Supreme Court denial cleared the way for collection request

The Supreme Court's refusal to take Trump's appeal left in place the judgment and the ruling of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After that denial, Carroll's legal team moved to enforce payment in the trial court, according to federal court records.

Carroll asked the court to require payment of the judgment after Trump's appeal failed.

The official federal docket for Carroll v. Trump, No. 23-793 shows the appellate history, while the Supreme Court's orders list reflects the denial of review. Readers can find more on how this newsroom handles official documents at Source Transparency.

What the 2023 jury found in Carroll's civil case

In May 2023, a jury found Trump liable in Carroll's civil case. The verdict form and court findings show jurors concluded Trump sexually abused Carroll, though they did not find that he raped her under the specific legal definition presented to them, and that he defamed her after she described the attack publicly.

  • Who: E. Jean Carroll, a writer and advice columnist, and President Donald Trump.
  • What: A request to enforce a $5.8 million judgment following an unsuccessful appeal.
  • Where: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
  • When: The enforcement motion was filed Tuesday, after the Supreme Court declined review.
  • Why it matters: The damages award remains legally in place, and the dispute has moved to payment and enforcement.

The amount referenced in Tuesday's request is slightly higher than the original $5 million jury award because post-judgment interest and related calculations can increase what is owed, according to court filings and reporting based on those records.

What happens next in federal court

The next step is for the trial judge to decide how to handle Carroll's enforcement request. Court records in the Southern District of New York are the official source for any order requiring payment or setting deadlines.

For readers who want to track the case directly, the most reliable places to check are the Supreme Court and federal court dockets rather than campaign statements or social media posts. Our standards for using primary legal records are explained in our Editorial Policy.

Key points for readers following the case

  • This is a civil judgment, not a criminal sentence.
  • The Supreme Court did not rule on the underlying facts, it declined to hear the appeal.
  • The 2023 jury's findings and the damages award remain in effect unless changed by a court.
  • Any payment deadline or enforcement action would come through the federal trial court in New York.

Readers who need the latest status should watch the Southern District of New York docket, where any judge's order on Carroll's request would first appear.

Primary sources: Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Reported by Source Text Link, CourtListener (Official Federal Court Records), Justia Law (Official Case Repository), FindLaw Caselaw, Politico, FindLaw, The New York Times, Chattanooga Times Free Press.