Depp v Heard Trial

Department Resources

press conference area in front of courthouse — Area in front of courthouse is planned for potential press conference for attorneys.

June 1, 2022 update: The jury's verdict in the Depp v. Heard case will be read in court at 3 p.m. today.

Closing arguments in the Depp v. Heard trial concluded on Friday, May 27, and the jury was excused from the courtroom at approximately 2:57 p.m. to deliberate. The jurors will decide what time to conclude their deliberations tonight. If they have not reached a verdict tonight, they will return Tuesday morning, May 31, to continue their deliberations. Once a verdict is reached and read in court, Judge Azcarate will allow the attorneys to conduct a press conference outside in front of the courthouse, if they wish. The area is outlined in the adjacent photo.

If jury deliberations continue past Friday, May 27, 100 wristbands will be distributed each day beginning Tuesday, May 31. That day and thereafter, Judge Azcarate will keep the 5J courtroom open because she has a full docket of cases unrelated to Depp v. Heard. The Depp v. Heard spectators can sit in the 5J courtroom while other cases are being heard. The overflow courtroom will also be open in case any of those 100 spectators want to sit elsewhere to wait. Once the jury is ready to return to court with their verdict, a deputy in the overflow courtroom will escort the spectators back to 5J so they can hear the verdict. In sum, 100 spectators with wristbands will be allowed into the courtroom to hear the verdict.

The courthouse opens at 7 a.m. as does the public parking garage. All visitors to the courthouse must go through a security screening procedure. Please note that certain items are prohibited in the courthouse. These include, but are not limited to guns, knives, ammunition, pepper spray, mace, razor blades, illegal drugs and dangerous or hazardous material that could be used to harm another person. For the security screening, visitors should empty their pockets and place contents in the container provided. Place purses, briefcases, backpacks and parcels on the X-ray machine for scanning. Walk through the metal detector. If the X-ray or metal detector sets off an alert or alarm, a court security officer may perform another scan, using a hand wand. The security officer may also ask permission to conduct a physical search of the person and personal articles to determine the cause of the alert or alarm. Before proceeding from the security screening area, visitors should retrieve all of their personal possessions.

Before entering the courthouse and going through the security screening, trial spectators must stop at a table in front of the courthouse as you approach from the parking garage. Sheriff’s deputies will greet you and issue a colored wristband with a tamper-evident adhesive closer. Wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, Monday - Friday (trial days), 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., and up to the authorized courtroom capacity, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. There is no distinction between media representatives and other spectators. Sheriff’s deputies will alert any persons assembled outside the courthouse when spectator seating is closed for the day. Re-entry to the courtroom will be allowed only to those wearing that day's wristband.

All spectators must be prepared to show a photo ID to get a wristband and to enter the courtroom.

All video coverage will come through two Court TV pool cameras.

Public Gatherings/Assembly

Designated areas will be identified to allow for safe and peaceful public assembly on the judicial complex. A special permit is not required for public gatherings. However, the Sheriff’s Office will ensure that gatherings are held peacefully and in compliance with the law. Persons are prohibited from obstructing pedestrians or vehicles on the judicial complex and/or the ingress and egress of visitors and employees to the courthouse. The chief judge will not allow overnight camping on the courthouse grounds.

Media

The Sheriff’s Office court security team will manage onsite media coverage throughout the trial. Media cameras and equipment will be permitted on the grassy areas in front of the courthouse and near the flagpoles on West Street, so long as they are not blocking public sidewalks to include the ingress/egress to the courthouse. Media will be provided a staging area for their vehicles in the surface lot at West Street and Page Avenue.

As with other spectators, media personnel are required to pass through the security screening checkpoints before entering the public areas of the courthouse. Chief Judge Azcarate authorized two video cameras in the courtroom to provide live feed media pool coverage in accordance with Virginia Code 19.2-266. Additionally, she will allow one stationary pool photographer in the courtroom for still photos. Except for the persons authorized to record, reserved seating will not be provided for any media in the courtroom.

Please refer to the Circuit Court's high-profile cases page for the judge's order concerning the courtroom and media and the media pool camera information.

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