Johnny Depp's Win at Defamation Trial Could Cause 'Chilling' Effect, Says Ex-Judge
Can Johnny Depp regain everything he lost if he wins the defamation case against Amber Heard?
Depp, his team, and fans have been working together to clean the actor's name after Heard published the damaging The Washington Post op-ed in 2018.
The closing arguments in the ongoing trial will happen on May 27, and the seven jurors will decide then whether the "Aquaman" actress truly defamed her ex-husband by painting him as an abuser.
So far, experts have been impressed with Depp's testimonies when he took the stand. With that, people are curious about what would happen if he wins the lawsuit.
Criminal defense attorney and former California judge, Halim Dhanidina, recently told New York Post that Depp's success would serve as a strong message for victims like him.
"Any time a defamation lawsuit is successful, it has a chilling effect on speech. There has always been a chilling effect for victims to come forward and speak out against institutions or entities or people with power because they feel like their world could come crashing down on them," she said.
If the verdict goes in favor of Depp, then people who speak against the actor would think twice about the actor since they could lead to legal liability.
Johnny Depp VS Amber Heard Trial's New Witnesses
The verdict would be affected by the next witnesses who are set to take the stand.
After a week-long break, more people are expected to take the stand to represent the two parties.
Jennifer Grey, Joel Grey's daughter, is expected to appear in court after saying that she does not recognize her ex-fiance in the trial footage. She revealed that seeing Depp in his current state makes her sad.
"From the clips or things that I've come across, I don't recognize the person. It's nothing to do with anything that I've ever experienced, and it makes me sad. I don't understand what's going on, and I just want everyone to be okay," she said, as quoted by EW.
She also revealed in her memoir that she felt nothing but love during her relationship with Depp.
Kate Moss and Ellen Barkin will also defend Depp and Heard, respectively. While the actor has long insisted that Barkin only testifies against him as she holds a grudge after their breakup.
Meanwhile, the model will highly likely debunk Heard's claims and disprove her narrative that he has a history of abuse.
