Sonia Sotomayor refuses to pause $655m judgment against Palestinian Authority over attack claims

In a recent decision, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor declined to halt a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization. The court did not offer any explanation for its choice, and it did not forward the request to the entire court. This ruling permits the collection of the funds to proceed as the Palestinian organizations continue to prepare an appeal. However, Sotomayor's decision does not signify a resolution on the appeal itself.

The Palestinian entities had approached the court to suspend the judgment, contending that it ought not to have been reinstated following its prior reversal. They also cautioned that enforcing the award now could exacerbate the PA's financial crisis and impede essential services in the West Bank. The lawsuit was initiated by American victims and their families who were affected by shootings and bombings in and around Jerusalem between 2002 and 2004.

In 2015, a New York jury ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding $218.5 million in damages, which was subsequently tripled under US anti-terrorism law to the current amount. Congress enacted legislation to enable cases against the PA and PLO. Nonetheless, the initial judgment was overturned in 2016 by an appeals court, asserting that US courts lacked jurisdiction to hear the case against the PA and PLO at that time. Subsequently, Congress amended the law to facilitate American terrorism victims in bringing such cases.

The Supreme Court's unanimous agreement to maintain this law in 2025 prompted the appeals court to reinstate the original judgment in March. The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization are anticipated to submit a request to the Supreme Court to determine whether a judgment that was previously overturned can be legally reinstated years later.