No winners, no lessons in Johnny Depp and Amber trial, experts warn

The trial of actresses Amber Heard and Johnny Depp has become one of the most talked-about issues at coffee shops as a result of the media coverage.

In the open, personal life

In recent weeks, not only has the manner one and the other have revealed the murky sides of their characters filled the entertainment sections of the media, but social media platforms have also become a showcase for access to the legal conflict.

However, several litigation experts warn that there will be no absolute winner once the verdict is known at the end of the presentation of witnesses, evidence and testimonies.

According to attorney Jon Katz, who from his office can watch the Fairfax County, Virginia courthouse, where dozens of fans have gathered to get a close-up view of the most famous plaintiffs of the moment, the final verdict in the most important case he can remember in two decades of practicing criminal defense, should punish both celebrities.

Media circus

For his part, Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA, mentions that, despite the media coverage of the case, it is in some ways simple.

“It seems like a pretty basic defamation suit. It all depends on the facts. I haven’t seen anything that would really affect the law,” he says.

Meanwhile, Jack Browning, an attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, which represents major media clients such as John Oliver, considers what has been seen so far to be a sui generis case, and without many major lessons.