Supreme Court declines to revive Roy Moore's $8.2 million defamation award
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Roy Moore's appeal, leaving the 11th Circuit's reversal of his $8.2 million defamation verdict intact.
Former Alabama chief justice Roy Moore asked the Supreme Court to reinstate an $8.2 million defamation judgment stemming from a 2017 Senate campaign advertisement financed by Senate Majority PAC. A federal jury had originally found the PAC liable, but the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the verdict, concluding Moore had not shown the organization acted with malice. The high court rejected Moore's petition for review, leaving the appellate ruling in place.
The contested ad juxtaposed statements that implied Moore solicited sexual activity from teenage girls, a claim Moore's lawyers called fabricated. The case follows Moore's defeat in the 2017 Senate race, which was marred by allegations of sexual misconduct. The Supreme Court's refusal marks a final setback for Moore's legal efforts.
Why it matters
The decision ends Moore's attempt to recover a large defamation award, reinforcing the high bar for public figures to prove malice.
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