The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, effectively upholding a $1.4 billion defamation verdict against him. The penalty stems from false claims he made about the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, which killed 20 first graders and six educators. In 2022, juries in Connecticut and Texas found Jones liable for defamation and inflicting emotional distress on the victims’ families.

In his appeal, Jones argued that the verdict amounted to a “financial death penalty” against a media personality. He warned that, without intervention from the court, the sale of his far-right platform, InfoWars, could allow ideological opponents to take control, potentially misleading his estimated 30 million daily listeners. Despite his claims, the justices declined to hear the case without explanation, a standard practice for the court.

Earlier this year, a federal judge ordered Free Speech Systems, the parent company of InfoWars, to surrender its assets to a court-appointed receiver. This move clears the way for the platform’s sale, which could include bids from satirical outlets like The Onion. Jones has yet to pay any of the damages awarded to the Sandy Hook families.

While that case closes, the Supreme Court is preparing for a consequential new term. On October 15, the justices will rehear Louisiana v. Callais, a case that challenges Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—a key provision that bars racial discrimination in redistricting and voting laws.

Voting rights advocates warn that a decision weakening Section 2 could allow Republican-led legislatures to redraw as many as 19 congressional districts in their favor. Such a shift could significantly reduce Democratic representation in states like Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi, with broad implications for the national political landscape.