Supreme Court Upholds $1.4 Billion Alex Jones Judgment/ Neslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear Alex Jones’ appeal against a $1.4 billion defamation judgment tied to his false claims about the Sandy Hook school shooting. Jones had contested the judgment, citing procedural errors and lack of due trial. The decision keeps in place one of the largest defamation penalties in U.S. history.
Sandy Hook Judgment Quick Looks
- Supreme Court refuses to hear Alex Jones’ appeal
- $1.4 billion defamation ruling against Jones remains in place
- Jones claimed Sandy Hook was a hoax; families sued
- No trial held due to Jones’ repeated noncompliance
- Judgment includes $964M jury verdict + $473M punitive damages
- Infowars’ assets liquidation effort now in Texas state court
- The Onion’s satirical bid for Infowars was rejected by bankruptcy judge
- Jones also facing $49M Texas defamation case appeal
- Supreme Court issued decision without requesting Sandy Hook families’ response
- Jones filed for bankruptcy in 2022, complicating damages collection
Deep Look: Supreme Court Upholds $1.4 Billion Ruling Against Alex Jones
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review an appeal from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, leaving intact a staggering $1.4 billion judgment awarded to the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. The decision signals a final legal blow to Jones, who spent years promoting false claims that the 2012 massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, was a government-orchestrated hoax involving crisis actors.
The Infowars founder had sought to overturn the ruling, arguing that his constitutional right to a fair trial was violated when a Connecticut judge found him liable for defamation and emotional distress without a full trial on the merits. However, the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal without comment or request for response from the plaintiffs, which included families of the 26 victims and an FBI agent who responded to the scene.
In 2021, Jones was issued a rare default judgment by a Connecticut judge after repeatedly failing to comply with court orders and refusing to produce critical evidence. Because of this misconduct, the court bypassed the standard trial process and held Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, automatically liable. A jury was later convened to determine the financial penalties.
In October 2022, that jury awarded the plaintiffs $964 million in compensatory damages. The following month, the judge added $473 million in punitive damages, pushing the total to nearly $1.4 billion. It remains one of the most significant defamation penalties ever imposed in the United States.
Separately, Jones is appealing a $49 million judgment in Texas, stemming from a similar defamation lawsuit brought by the parents of another Sandy Hook victim. That case also saw Jones defaulted due to his refusal to turn over court-ordered documents.
Jones filed for personal bankruptcy in late 2022, and his attorneys have repeatedly argued that he lacks the resources to pay the full judgment. “The plaintiffs have no possible hope of collecting,” his legal team told the high court.
As part of the bankruptcy proceedings, Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, went up for auction in November. In an unusual twist, the satirical news site The Onion was named the top bidder for Infowars’ assets. However, the bankruptcy judge later nullified the auction results, citing procedural irregularities and questions over The Onion’s bid.
Now, efforts to liquidate Infowars’ remaining assets have shifted to a Texas state court in Austin, where Jones is contesting a recent decision to appoint a receiver responsible for selling off his assets. Meanwhile, portions of Jones’ personal property are also being sold under the ongoing bankruptcy case.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to intervene effectively ends Jones’ chances of reversing the Connecticut judgment. It sends a strong signal about the legal consequences of misinformation campaigns, particularly those targeting victims of mass tragedy.
While Jones continues to appeal related cases and fight asset seizures, legal experts suggest that this ruling may mark the final chapter in one of the most high-profile defamation battles in recent memory.
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