Judge swats down Amber Heard’s demand for a mistrial

‘There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing’

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(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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While Cockburn already covered the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard verdict a month ago (live from the courthouse!), he notes that Ms. Heard hasn’t moved on. She’s since resurfaced, with her lawyers attempting to throw out the ruling against her or declare a mistrial on the basis of a single juror, Juror Fifteen, supposedly being fraudulent.
On Wednesday, Judge Penney Azcarate issued her decision: no.
Azcarate wrote:
Juror Fifteen was vetted by the Court on the record and met the statutory requirements for service. Fifteen was vetted by the Court on the record and met the statutory requirements for service. The parties…

While Cockburn already covered the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard verdict a month ago (live from the courthouse!), he notes that Ms. Heard hasn’t moved on. She’s since resurfaced, with her lawyers attempting to throw out the ruling against her or declare a mistrial on the basis of a single juror, Juror Fifteen, supposedly being fraudulent.

On Wednesday, Judge Penney Azcarate issued her decision: no.

Azcarate wrote:

Juror Fifteen was vetted by the Court on the record and met the statutory requirements for service. Fifteen was vetted by the Court on the record and met the statutory requirements for service. The parties also questioned the jury panel for a full day and informed the Court that the jury panel was acceptable. Therefore, Due Process was guaranteed and provided to all parties in this litigation… There is no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing.

Speaking of post-trial shenanigans, a new NBC documentary, “A Marriage on Trial: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard and Truth in the Age of Social Media,” is set to examine the circus the trial ultimately became.

The Daily Beast’s Kyndall Cunningham reviews the film this way: “In a swift but impactful 30 minutes, the documentary attempts to frame Heard as a victim of online harassment and outline the disturbing ways an intimate matter between two celebrities became a virtual sport.” Cunningham also blames “shameless influencers who profited off pro-Depp content.”

In other words, Depp only really won in the court of public opinion. Nothing about the heinous crime Heard was accused of or the compelling testimony and revelations from Depp and his team.

Regardless of whether Heard is a “victim,” it’s doubtlessly clear that both Depp and Heard have issues to work out. Cockburn wishes them all the best.