Johnny Depp & Amber Heard Barred From Signing Autographs Outside Of Trial

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have been embroiled in a legal battle for several years. The couple has amassed a number of legal strategies to use against each other in court. Both Johnny Depp and Amber Heard appeared in court Tuesday morning as his defamation trial against her began in Fairfax, Virginia, and they were both barred from signing autographs or posing for photos during the trial.

A jury was chosen on Monday for the defamation case in which Depp is suing ex-wife Heard over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for the Washington Post about surviving domestic violence, though she never mentioned Depp by name in the article. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, began with opening statements on Tuesday.

The trial, which is being broadcast live by Court TV from the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia, has already drawn fans of Depp, who are holding signs that read “Justice for Johnny.” According to a court document, Judge Penney Azcarate ordered ahead of the trial that neither the Pirates of the Caribbean actor nor the Aquaman actress could “pose for pictures or sign autographs in the Courthouse or on Courthouse grounds,” or they would be found in contempt of court and “punished accordingly.”

Azcarate also stated that there “will be no overnight camping on Courthouse grounds” and “all spectators are expected to dress in a manner consistent with the decorum of a judicial proceeding.” Inside the courtroom, chewing gum, food, and beverages are also prohibited.

“Audible comments of any kind during the court proceedings or provocative or uncivil behavior within the courtroom or courthouse will not be tolerated. There shall be no gestures, facial expressions, or the like, suggesting approval or disapproval during the proceedings. Anyone violating this Order will be expelled immediately from the courtroom and will not be able to return during the pendency of the trial.”

The $50 million lawsuit was originally filed by Depp in March 2019, but it was postponed due to the pandemic. Depp lost his highly publicized U.K. libel lawsuit case against British tabloid The Sun in November 2020 for calling him a “wife-beater.” The court found the outlet’s claims to be “substantially true,” and Heard testified to support them. His attempt to overturn the decision was rejected in March 2021.

However, in this libel case, Depp is suing Heard directly rather than a media company, which changes her obligations and requirements to participate in the proceedings.

Heard previously requested that Depp’s Virginia lawsuit be dismissed, arguing that the U.K. judgment should have precedence over the proceedings in the United States because both lawsuits centre on allegations of abuse by Depp. However, in August, a Virginia judge granted Depp the right to continue with his lawsuit, rejecting Heard’s supplemental plea to dismiss the case.

Heard posted on Instagram on Saturday that she will be avoiding social media until after the trial, thanking her followers for their support. To get the latest updates, keep an eye on Thirsty.

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