Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Antigay Harassing State Attorney

The nation's high court has rejected former Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell's attempt to appeal a defamation ruling against him.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

November 03 2015 12:41 PM EST

November 03 2015 12:42 PM EST

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The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined a former Michigan lawman's request to reconsider a multimillion dollar judgment against him for targeting a gay student body president at the former assistant attorney general's alma mater, reports the Associated Press.

The request came from Andrew Shirvell, a former Michigan assistant attorney general, who lost his job in 2010 after tormenting Chris Armstrong, the first openly gay student body president at the University of Michigan, throughout the student's tenure. Shrivell's alleged harassment was so severe that it included allegations he was stalking Armstrong, resulting in Shirvell's temporary banning from the university campus.

During his time as an assistant attorney general, Shrivell operated a blog called Chris Armstrong Watch, where he claimed Armstrong pushed a "radical homosexual agenda," and called him a Nazi and a representative of Satan. All of that prompted Armstrong to file a defamation suit in 2011 -- the year he graduated.

The first federal court to hear the defamation suit ruled in favor of Armstrong, ordering Shirvell to pay $4.5 million in damages. On appeal, a federal court reduced that amount by $1million but simultaneously refused Shirvell's request to rehear the case, notes the AP.

Throughout litigation, Shirvell maintained that Armstrong could not be defamed, since his tenure as student body president qualified him as a public figure. Prior to the first hearing in the defamation suit, Shirvell was even offered a deal -- apologize and all the charges would be dropped. But Shirvell refused and the case went forward, ultimately seeing the nation's high court affirm the finding against Shirvell by declining Monday to hear his case.