Donald Trump's legal team has asked the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to reject an appeal concerning a $5 million civil judgment awarded to writer E. Jean Carroll. The request was filed after the Supreme Court denied Trump's petition on June 29, leaving in place the judgment from a 2023 jury verdict that found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the 1990s and for defamation.
Trump has denied Carroll's allegations.
In the rehearing petition, Trump's lawyers contend that the court should reopen the case because he intends to file a separate Supreme Court appeal in another defamation case involving Carroll. They argue this new appeal will raise significant questions regarding presidential immunity for official statements.
The petition requests that the justices "grant rehearing" or hold the current petition while the related case proceeds. "Rehearing is warranted because President Trump will imminently file a petition for a writ of certiorari in Carroll v. Trump, No. 24-644 (2d Cir.) ('Carroll I'), which will present vital questions concerning Presidential immunity for official statements," the filing stated.
The lawyers further argue that the court should grant rehearing and either accept the petition in the current case or hold it pending the resolution of the petition in "Carroll I." They assert that in the underlying case, referred to as "Carroll II," the respondent "improperly introduced and relied on those same official Presidential statements at trial."
Supreme Court rules typically limit rehearing petitions following a denial of certiorari to cases where intervening circumstances have a substantial or controlling effect, or other substantial grounds not previously presented. The Supreme Court docket indicated that an initial rehearing filing was not accepted due to a needed correction. A corrected petition was submitted Wednesday.
The court has not yet ruled on the rehearing request, with a decision potentially expected later this month, possibly around July 20.