Judge rejects Amber Heard's bid for new trial with Johnny Depp

Actress was ordered to pay ex-husband $10.35m in damages after jury ruled she had defamed him in newspaper opinion piece

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  Amber Heard said last month that she stands by 'every word' of her testimony in her defamation trial, in which she was sued by former husband Johnny Depp. AFP

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  NBC journalist Savannah Guthrie interviewed Heard in June following the trial's conclusion. She revealed how her husband Michael Feldman consulted with Depp's legal team. Photo: NBC News

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  Heard says she doesn’t blame the jury for awarding Depp more than $15 million after a contentious six-week libel trial — it was later reduced to $10m. AP

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  Heard reacts with her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft after the verdict was read at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse, Virginia, US, in June. AP

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  Depp was in Newcastle, England, with musician Jeff Beck when the verdict was read. AP

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  Heard leaves after the jury's verdict. EPA

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  Heard and Depp prior to their wedding. The marriage lasted less than two years. AP

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  Heard in a scene from 'London Fields'. Photo: GVN Releasing

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  After losing his lawsuit against British tabloid 'The Sun', Depp said he planned to appeal the UK libel ruling, but then decided to sue his ex-wife in the US. AP

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  Heard speaking at the 4th Annual Women's March LA: Women Rising in Los Angeles in January 2020. Getty Images / AFP

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  Heard leaving the High Court in London in July 2020. Reuters

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  A video of Depp plays on a screen before Paul McCartney's performance on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival in June. EPA

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  After speaking out about domestic abuse, Amber Heard feared she would lose her roles in the movies 'Justice League' and 'Aquaman', the latter of which she starred in opposite Jason Momoa. Photo: DC Entertainment

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  Depp gestures as he arrives at the Parco della Musica venue for the 19th edition of "Alice nella Citta" in Rome, Italy. AFP

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  Heard wearing an outfit from Monique Lhuillier at the Golden Globes in 2019. Reuters

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  Heard arrives on the red carpet for a Golden Globes ceremony. AFP

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  Heard watches the men's semi-final match at Wimbledon in 2018. EPA

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  Since the trial, Depp has been playing guitar on stage in front of fans. AP

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  Heard at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, in 2020. Reuters

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  Heard attends the Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2016. Getty Images

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  Heard wears a creation for the L'Oreal Spring/Summer 2022 fashion show presented in Paris, France, in 2021. AP

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  Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Helen Mirren and Heard in Paris, France. AP

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  After Depp filed a lawsuit against her, Heard testified she lost her contract with L'Oreal. AFP

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  Depp inside the courtroom in April at the beginning of the trial. AP

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  Heard is styled backstage during Paris Fashion Week in 2021. Getty Images

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  Depp performs on stage at the Helsinki Blues Festival in June. EPA

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  British rock guitarist Jeff Beck and Depp perform on stage at the Helsinki Blues Festival. EPA

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  Depp waves to supporters as he departs the Fairfax County Courthouse after closing arguments. He never returned for the reading of the verdict. AP

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  Depp received the Gold Medal of Merit on the occasion of Serbia's Statehood Day in Belgrade, Serbia, in February. Reuters

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  Depp and Heard's former penthouse sits on top of Downtown Los Angeles’s famed Eastern Columbia Building and was recently put up for sale. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

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  There is a saltwater pool on the rooftop. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

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  There is an additional lounge area on the staircase landing. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

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  The apartment measures 1,780 square feet. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

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  The penthouse apartment has one bedroom. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

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  The kitchen and lounge area. Photo: Douglas Elliman Realty

Aquaman actress Amber Heard lost a bid for a new trial in her defamation case brought by ex-husband Johnny Depp on Wednesday, when a judge rejected her lawyers' argument that one of the jurors had served improperly.

In June, Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10.35 million in damages after a jury in Fairfax County, Virginia, ruled she had defamed the Pirates of the Caribbean star in a newspaper opinion piece.

Her lawyers had asked the judge in the case to throw out the decision and declare a mistrial, arguing that one of the jurors in the case had not been eligible to serve because his summons was intended for his father, who had the same name and lived at the same address.

Judge Penny Azcarate ruled that there was “no evidence of fraud or wrongdoing” by the juror and that the jury's verdict should stand.

She also noted that both sides had questioned and accepted all jurors at the start of the trial.

“Due process was guaranteed and provided to all parties in this litigation,” Ms Azcarate wrote.

Depp had sued Heard for defamation after she called herself “a public figure representing domestic abuse” in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post.

Depp denied abusing Heard and said she was the one who had turned violent in their relationship.

Heard countersued, saying Depp had smeared her when his lawyer called her accusations a “hoax”.

The jury awarded Heard $2m in damages on one of her counterclaims.

Heard said she only struck Depp in defence of herself or her sister.

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  Amber Heard hugs her lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, after the jury found her liable for defamation against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp on June 1, 2022. Pool / EPA

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  Johnny Depp's lawyers Camille Vasquez and Ben Chew arrive to give a statement to the media outside the Fairfax County Courthouse after the jury found Heard liable for defamation. AP

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  Fans of Depp react to the verdict outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse. EPA

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  Supporters Depp and supporters of Heard stand outside the courthouse during the trial. EPA

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  Amber Heard said her sister, Whitney Henriquez, got into a physical altercation with Johnny Depp. AP

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  Heard described several instances where she alleged Depp physically abused her – some of her testimony turning extremely graphic. AFP

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  Travis McGivern, a security guard for Depp, detailed a number of volatile arguments between Depp and Heard. EPA

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  A fan of Johnny Depp waits outside the courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia. AFP

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  Depp fans cheer outside the courthouse. Reuters

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  Clinical and forensic psychologist Shannon Curry testifies on behalf of Depp, saying Heard suffers from borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. She made the diagnosis after reviewing her medical records and speaking with her over 12 hours. EPA

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  Forensic psychologist Dawn Hughes said Heard suffered from PTSD due to the violence she allegedly experienced at Depp's hand. AP

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  Depp denied ever having struck Heard but admitted he has struggled with alcohol and drug use. EPA

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  Heard became emotional when giving details of alleged past abuse. AFP

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  Christi Dembrowski, Depp's older sister, said Heard had been verbally abusive towards him. AFP

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  Raquel Pennington, a friend of Heard, becomes emotional as a picture of Heard is seen on screen as evidence of alleged abuse. EPA

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  Kate Moss, a former girlfriend of Depp, said he did not push her down the stairs. EPA

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  A 'Pirates of the Caribbean'-themed vehicle sits in front of the courthouse. EPA

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  Depp's lawyer Camille Vasquez grilled Heard when she took the stand, often interrupting her. AFP

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  Fans cheer as Depp arrives at the courthouse. Hundreds of people queued overnight just to nab a seat in the courtroom. AFP