Johnny Depp Defamation Trial Against Amber Heard Takes Huge Step Forward
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are locked in a steep legal battle and that defemation lawsuit Depp has started took an important step this morning.
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The world is patiently waiting to see the outcome of the long-standing court battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard take place. Well, the world that concerns those who signed the petition to get Heard thrown out of Aquaman 2, and those who were happy that Depp was also canned from Fantastic Beasts and the Pirates reboot. While this torrid love affair has gone crazy since Heard came out and all but named her ex-husband as her abuser, their private lives have been showcased on plenty of news outlets. Their trial proceedings began this morning as Depp attempts to countersue Heard for defamation of character from losing out on the above film franchises. An important step took place this morning as the jury has been selected.
With the jury being selected for this Johnny Depp defamation suit, the opening statements from both parties’ lawyers can take place tomorrow morning. Eleven members of the jury have been selected for this trial, which is said to last up to six weeks. Seven of the 11 jurors will deliberate on a final verdict, with the remaining four to be selected at random for the end of testimonies and closing arguments. The entire court proceedings are said to be televised on Court TV. While Depp and Amber Heard may have wanted their private lives to stay in private, their entire failed marriage and accusation of domestic abuse are now being shown on live television. The trial will take place every week from Monday through Thursday, with Fridays off. There will be a brief break from May 9th to May 12th as the judge presiding over this case has a previous judicial conference to attend. This break might not happen, in case both parties come to some sort of agreement sooner than the six weeks takes place.
Jurors were selected starting this morning and the tension at the initial hearing was reported, as it was stated that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard would not even make eye contact. Through Judge Penney Azcarate and the lawyers representing both parties, the jurors were asked questions regarding knowing this high-profile former couple. One juror claimed that his wife text him and told him that Heard is “psychotic.” Sometimes in jury selection, there are biased people. These biases are meant to be done away with during the jury selection process so that both parties will have an equal and fair trial.
Johnny Depp had initially attempted to take Amber Heard to trial in 2019 after her op-ed piece came out in 2018, essentially painting him as her abuser. The pair had been married in 2016, but soon split when Heard filed a domestic abuse restraining order against Depp. She countersued Depp for $100 million and tried to get this case thrown out several times to no avail. Now Depp has seen fit to attempt his own countersuit against his ex-wife and is requesting $50 million in regard to the potential money he would have made from Fantastic Beasts and the potential Pirates of the Caribbean rebooted franchise. Opening statements will take place tomorrow morning.
