When Johnny Depp returns to court next month to fight assault allegations, it will likely not become a spectacle reminiscent of his recent defamation trial, as requests for the proceedings to be televised have been denied.
During his six-week defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, viewers were able to tune in on a daily basis to catch all of the drama live as it was broadcast from Virginia’s Fairfax County Circuit Court.
This time around, Depp will face film crew member Gregg “Rocky” Brooks, who has accused the actor of punching him in the chest during a dispute on the Los Angeles set of the actor’s film City of Lies in April 2017. However, fans hoping for a front-row seat to the proceedings from the convenience of their homes will be disappointed to learn that this trial will not be a repeat performance of Depp’s previous trial in that regard.
The Law & Crime Network, which live-streamed Depp’s defamation trial, said that its request submitted to Los Angeles County Superior Court for permission to broadcast the trial when it begins on July 25 has been denied.
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We’ve Heard Too Much, Amber
The reasoning around permitting or denying requests to broadcast courtroom proceedings for each case is different. Penney Azcarate, the chief judge of the Fairfax County Circuit Court, granted permission for Court TV to operate two pool cameras in the courtroom for the Depp-Heard trial.
During a pre-trial hearing in February, Heard’s team had tried unsuccessfully to exclude cameras from the courtroom, with the Aquaman star’s lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, expressing concern of interest from “anti-Amber networks,” according to Variety.
Ben Chew, one of the attorneys representing Depp, said that his client “believes in transparency” as he pushed for the inclusion of cameras during proceedings. In the end, Azcarate said that she had been inundated with media requests and felt a responsibility to keep the courtroom proceedings open to observers.
The judge also stated that not allowing cameras could lead to reporters descending on the courthouse anyway, leading to a potentially hazardous situation.
“I don’t see any good cause not to do it,” Azcarate said ahead of the trial.
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