Trump Seeks Supreme Court Intervention in Carroll Judgment Appeal

WHO:

CNN - President Donald Trump

CNN - E. Jean Carroll, magazine columnist

CNN - US Circuit Judge Denny Chin, nominated by President Barack Obama

CNN - Department of Justice

WHAT:

CNN - Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, arguing that the Second Circuit "never even decided whether presidential immunity applies."

ABC News - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

AP - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

Fox News - Trump's attorneys argued to the Supreme Court that presidential immunity should toss the $83.3 million defamation judgment ordered to E. Jean Carroll.

CNN - Trump’s attorneys stated, “This is the first case in our nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a president for his conduct in office.”

AP - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

ABC News - The Justice Department intends to intervene to effectively take over the case under the Westfall Act, which could end Carroll’s defamation case.

CNN - Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, arguing that the Second Circuit "never even decided whether presidential immunity applies."

AP - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

ABC News - The latest appeal comes weeks after the Supreme Court declined to take up a separate case from Trump in which he is seeking to unwind a $5 million civil verdict that found him sexually abused and defamed Carroll.

ABC News - The appeal comes about two years after the Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity from criminal prosecution as a former president.

AP - The Justice Department intends to intervene to effectively take over the case under the Westfall Act, which shields individual federal employees from tort suits for actions taken while they were engaged with their official duties.

ABC News - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

CNN - Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, arguing that the Second Circuit "never even decided whether presidential immunity applies."

CNN - Trump's attorneys stated, “Here, the president of the United States has been ordered to pay nearly $100 million in damages … for issuing a press release and answering reporters’ questions, from the White House, defending against attacks on his fitness for office.”

AP - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday.

AP - The Justice Department intends to intervene to effectively take over the case under the Westfall Act, which shields government employees from being sued for doing their jobs.

ABC News - Trump and the Justice Department are asking the Supreme Court to dismiss an $83 million defamation verdict won by E. Jean Carroll, stating he cannot be sued for comments made while he was president.

ABC News - The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court.

ABC News - Trump's lawyers described the damages as “grossly excessive.”

ABC News - The Manhattan jury awarded Carroll $83 million in damages in January 2024.

ABC News - Carroll testified twice before New York juries that Trump sexually assaulted her in spring 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman.

CNN - Trump’s attorneys stated that the Second Circuit “never even decided whether presidential immunity applies” in their appeal to the Supreme Court.

CNN - The appeal claims that Trump has been ordered to pay “nearly $100 million in damages” for issuing a press release and answering reporters’ questions from the White House.

CNN - The appeals court found that Trump had previously waived any claim of presidential immunity and stated that the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision did not alter their view.

CNN - Judge Denny Chin noted that “Presidential immunity was not raised for the first three years of this case.”

CNN - The Justice Department intends to intervene under the Westfall Act, which could effectively end Carroll’s defamation case.

CNN - Trump’s attorneys stated, “This is the first case in our nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a president for his conduct in office.”

CNN - Trump’s attorneys claimed that the president has been ordered to pay “nearly $100 million in damages” for issuing a press release and answering reporters’ questions from the White House.

CNN - The Justice Department intends to intervene to effectively take over the case under the Westfall Act, which could end Carroll’s defamation case.

CNN - Trump urged the Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation against Carroll.

CNN - Trump’s attorneys argued that he is immune from litigation due to his position as president.

CNN - The appeal claims that the Second Circuit did not decide whether presidential immunity applies.

CNN - Trump is also asking the court to review whether the United States government should be the defendant instead of him.

CNN - A federal appeals court affirmed the damages award, finding it “reasonable in light of the extraordinary and egregious facts.”

CNN - Trump has denied wrongdoing in both cases involving Carroll.

CNN - Carroll claims Trump defamed her by denying an assault and making statements about her character in 2019.

Fox News - Trump's attorneys argued that presidential immunity should dismiss the $83.3 million judgment.

WHERE:

CNN - The case involves statements made by Trump while he was president, specifically related to events at a Bergdorf Goodman department store.

WHEN:

CNN - The Supreme Court will not consider Trump’s appeal until the fall, and if it agrees to hear the case, a decision is not expected until next June.

CNN - The Supreme Court will not consider Trump’s appeal until the fall.

CNN - If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, a decision is not expected until next June.

CNN - The full 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals declined to revisit the decision in late April.

WHY:

AP - Federal attorneys stated, “Absent this Court’s intervention, the sitting President is facing nearly a hundred million dollars of personal liability for conduct that was well within the scope of his federal office.”

ABC News - Federal attorneys stated, “Absent this Court’s intervention, the sitting President is facing nearly a hundred million dollars of personal liability for conduct that was well within the scope of his federal office.”

CNN - Trump told the justices that an appeals court decision in Carroll’s favor would “cause significant damage, not only to this president and future presidents” but also the nation.

CNN - Trump’s attorneys argue that the ruling could cause significant damage to him and future presidents.

CNN - The appeal is based on the claim that the president should be immune from civil claims for actions taken while in office.

HOW:

CNN - The appeal relies on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision granting the president wide immunity for actions taken in office, which Trump’s attorneys argue was not considered by the Second Circuit.

CNN - Trump’s appeal relies on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision granting wide immunity to the president for actions taken in office.

CNN - The Justice Department intends to intervene under the Westfall Act, which shields federal employees from tort suits for actions taken while engaged in official duties.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 23:17 UTC)

Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, claiming that the Second Circuit "never even decided whether presidential immunity applies." His attorneys argue that the Supreme Court's 2024 decision, which granted the president broad immunity for actions taken in office, was not considered by the Second Circuit. The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court on Wednesday.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 22:22 UTC)

Trump's attorneys have announced that this marks the first time in U.S. history that a court has imposed damages liability on a president for actions taken while in office. The Justice Department plans to intervene in the case under the Westfall Act, which could potentially end Carroll's defamation lawsuit, and an appeal filed by Trump is expected to be formally docketed with the court on Wednesday. The Supreme Court will not review Trump's appeal until the fall, with a decision anticipated by next June, as federal attorneys warn that without intervention, the sitting president could face nearly a hundred million dollars in personal liability.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 20:21 UTC)

Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, arguing that the Second Circuit has not determined whether presidential immunity applies. The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court on Wednesday, as federal attorneys emphasize the need for intervention to protect the sitting President from significant personal liability for actions taken while in office. This latest appeal follows the Supreme Court's recent decision not to hear a separate case where Trump is contesting a $5 million civil verdict related to allegations of sexual abuse and defamation.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 19:24 UTC)

Trump is appealing an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation, arguing that the Second Circuit "never even decided whether presidential immunity applies." His attorneys claim that the president has been ordered to pay nearly $100 million in damages for simply issuing a press release and responding to reporters' questions from the White House. The Supreme Court will not consider Trump's appeal until the fall, and if it agrees to hear the case, a decision is not expected until next June.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 16:24 UTC)

Trump and the Justice Department are asking the Supreme Court to dismiss an $83 million defamation verdict won by E. Jean Carroll, arguing that he cannot be sued for comments made while he was president. The appeal has been filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court, with Trump's lawyers describing the damages as “grossly excessive.” Carroll testified twice before New York juries that Trump sexually assaulted her in spring 1996 at Bergdorf Goodman, and federal attorneys have stated that without the Court's intervention, the sitting President could face nearly a hundred million dollars in personal liability for actions taken while in office.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 10:53 UTC)

Trump's attorneys have argued that the Second Circuit did not determine whether presidential immunity applies in their appeal to the Supreme Court, where they claim he faces nearly $100 million in damages for a press release and responses to reporters. The appeals court found that Trump had waived any claim of presidential immunity, and Judge Denny Chin pointed out that this issue was not raised during the first three years of the case. The Supreme Court is set to consider Trump's appeal in the fall, with a potential decision not expected until June of next year.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 04:04 UTC)

Trump's attorneys have announced that this marks the first time in U.S. history that a court has held a president liable for damages related to their conduct while in office, with Trump facing nearly $100 million in damages for a press release and responses to reporters. The Justice Department plans to intervene in the case under the Westfall Act, which could potentially end E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against him. Trump has expressed concerns that an appeals court ruling in Carroll's favor would inflict significant harm on both himself and future presidents, arguing that the Supreme Court's 2024 decision granting presidential immunity was not adequately considered by the Second Circuit.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 00:17 UTC)

President Trump is urging the Supreme Court to overturn an $83.3 million jury verdict for defamation against E. Jean Carroll, claiming he is immune from litigation due to his presidential position. His attorneys argue that the Second Circuit did not address whether this immunity applies and are also asking the court to consider if the United States government should be the defendant instead of Trump himself. The Supreme Court will not take up the appeal until the fall, and if they agree to hear the case, a decision is not expected until next June.