The Supreme Court has let stand an appeals court ruling that overturned a multi-million-dollar defamation verdict against a former Alabama Supreme Court justice, concluding his years-long legal dispute over a campaign ad that referenced past sexual misconduct allegations. The justices’ refusal to take up the case means the lower court’s decision—stripping away the earlier judgment—remains in effect. Legal experts had watched the case closely as it tested the boundaries of free speech and defamation law in politically charged contexts. The ruling marks the final chapter in a high-profile battle that began with accusations surfacing during the justice’s 2017 election campaign.
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a challenge from Roy Moore, the former Alabama Supreme Court justice, to an appeals court ruling that wiped out a multi-million defamation verdict over a 2017 campaign ad that recounted allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The decision effectively ends Moore’s long-running legal battle against Senate Majority...
