What Happened to Roy Moore Defamation Appeals?
Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has pursued multiple defamation lawsuits following sexual misconduct allegations made against him during his 2017 U.S. Senate campaign. While he initially secured an $8.2 million jury award against the Senate Majority PAC in 2022, this verdict was unanimously reversed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on April 24, 2026. Moore has largely been unsuccessful in his other defamation claims, including against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and several accusers.
Quick Answer
On April 24, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously reversed an $8.2 million defamation award that Roy Moore had won against the Senate Majority PAC. The court ruled that Moore, as a public figure, failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the PAC acted with 'actual malice' in its 2017 campaign ad. This decision effectively overturned the significant jury verdict from 2022, marking a major defeat in one of Moore's prominent defamation cases. Moore is reportedly considering further appeals to the full Eleventh Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Sexual Misconduct Allegations Emerge
The Washington Post publishes reports detailing multiple women's allegations of sexual misconduct against Roy Moore, then a U.S. Senate candidate, during his 2017 campaign.
Moore Loses Senate Special Election
Roy Moore loses the Alabama U.S. Senate special election to Democrat Doug Jones, an upset in the deeply Republican state, with the allegations playing a significant role.
Leigh Corfman Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Moore
Leigh Corfman, one of Moore's accusers, files a defamation lawsuit against him, alleging he defamed her by calling her a liar.
Moore Files Counter-Defamation Suits
Roy Moore files defamation lawsuits against Leigh Corfman and four other accusers, claiming their allegations damaged his reputation.
Moore Sues Senate Majority PAC and Sacha Baron Cohen
Roy Moore files defamation lawsuits against the Senate Majority PAC over a campaign ad and against Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime, and CBS for his appearance on 'Who Is America?'.
District Court Dismisses Sacha Baron Cohen Lawsuit
A U.S. District Court in New York dismisses Moore's lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen, citing a signed consent agreement.
Jury Finds Neither Moore Nor Corfman Liable for Defamation
A jury in Montgomery, Alabama, finds that neither Roy Moore nor Leigh Corfman defamed each other, resulting in a verdict where neither party recovered damages.
Appeals Court Upholds Dismissal of Sacha Baron Cohen Lawsuit
The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds the dismissal of Moore's $95 million defamation lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen, ruling the segment was 'clearly comedy' and Moore signed a waiver.
Jury Awards Moore $8.2 Million Against Senate Majority PAC
A federal jury awards Roy Moore $8.2 million in damages in his defamation lawsuit against the Senate Majority PAC.
Moore Loses Defamation Suit Against Deborah Wesson Gibson
An Etowah County Circuit Court dismisses another defamation suit filed by Moore against accuser Deborah Wesson Gibson.
Moore Loses Defamation Suit Against Beverly Nelson
Circuit Judge Gregory M. Williams rules that Roy Moore failed to provide substantial evidence in his defamation lawsuit against Beverly Nelson, who accused him of sexual assault.
Eleventh Circuit Reverses $8.2 Million Award Against Senate Majority PAC
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit unanimously reverses the $8.2 million defamation judgment in favor of Roy Moore against the Senate Majority PAC, ruling Moore failed to prove actual malice.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Roy Moore, a former Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, became embroiled in multiple defamation lawsuits following a series of sexual misconduct allegations that surfaced during his 2017 Senate campaign. These allegations, initially reported by The Washington Post, claimed Moore pursued romantic relationships or engaged in inappropriate behavior with women when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. Moore vehemently denied these claims, leading him to file several lawsuits asserting defamation and false light invasion of privacy.
One of the most significant cases involved the Democratic-aligned Senate Majority PAC (SMP). In 2017, SMP ran a television advertisement that juxtaposed statements from news reports, implying Moore had solicited sex from a 14-year-old girl working as a Santa's helper. Moore sued, arguing this implication was false and defamatory. A jury in a lower court sided with Moore in August 2022, awarding him $8.2 million in damages. However, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, on April 24, 2026, unanimously reversed this verdict. The appellate court found that Moore, as a public figure, failed to meet the 'actual malice' standard established by New York Times v. Sullivan, requiring clear and convincing evidence that SMP either knew the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for its falsity. The court specifically noted that in defamation-by-implication cases, the plaintiff must show the defendant intended to communicate the defamatory meaning.
Another high-profile defamation suit was filed against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, Showtime, and CBS. Moore claimed he was tricked into an appearance on Cohen's show 'Who Is America?' where Cohen, disguised as an Israeli counterterrorism expert, used a 'pedophile detection wand' that beeped near Moore. Moore alleged defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and fraud. In July 2022, the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's dismissal of the $95 million lawsuit, ruling that Moore had signed a disclosure agreement waiving legal claims and that the segment was 'clearly comedy' that no reasonable person would interpret as factual. While a December 2025 source mentioned a notice of appeal being filed with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the July 2022 ruling appears to be the definitive appellate outcome for that specific case.
Moore also engaged in defamation litigation with his accusers. In a lawsuit filed by Leigh Corfman, who alleged Moore molested her when she was 14, a jury in February 2022 found neither Moore nor Corfman liable for defamation, essentially a split decision where neither side proved their case. Furthermore, Moore lost a defamation and political conspiracy lawsuit against Beverly Nelson in a Walker County court in October 2025, with the judge finding insufficient evidence. An earlier defamation suit against Deborah Wesson Gibson was also dismissed in 2024.
The current status, as of April 24, 2026, is that Roy Moore's most significant defamation victory, the $8.2 million award against the Senate Majority PAC, has been overturned. His attorney has indicated that Moore is weighing options for further appeal, potentially seeking an en banc review by the full Eleventh Circuit or appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. This ongoing legal battle underscores the high bar for public figures to win defamation claims, particularly when challenging political advertising or satirical content.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Roy Moore Defamation Appeals made different choices?