WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court on June 15, 2025. Moore requested that the Court block a U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruling from taking effect during his appeal, arguing that he might not be able to recover an $8.2 million defamation verdict if the lower court's decision takes effect.

A federal jury had previously awarded Moore $8.2 million in a defamation lawsuit. The jury found that Senate Majority PAC defamed him with actual malice. Moore filed the lawsuit after alleging that the PAC created a campaign advertisement that falsely portrayed him as soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl.

The PAC appealed the jury's verdict. The 11th Circuit subsequently overturned the jury's verdict in favor of Moore. Moore stated that the 11th Circuit scheduled its mandate for issuance on or around June 15. Justice Clarence Thomas, the circuit justice for initial emergency appeals from the 11th Circuit, has not yet instructed the PAC to respond to Moore's emergency application.

Moore had run for a U.S. Senate seat in a 2017 special election. That election filled the vacancy created by Jeff Sessions' resignation to serve as attorney general. Democrat Doug Jones defeated Moore in the 2017 special election.

Moore was removed from his position as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2003. This removal occurred after he disregarded a federal court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the Alabama Supreme Court building. He was removed again from his chief justice position in 2016 following his refusal to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision on same-sex marriage.