With her appeal in motion, Amber Heard has brought in new attorneys with the hopes of having the Johnny Depp trial verdict tossed. Per TMZ, Heard has parted ways with Elaine Bredehoft, a key attorney on her team that had been seen arguing her case during the televised defamation trial. Now, Heard moves forward with her appeal plans with assistance from the law firm Ballard Spahr, enlisting lead attorneys David L. Axelrod and Jay Ward Brown. It's noted that the two attorneys were previously successful in defending Sarah Palin in a recent defamation case.
Attorney Ben Rottenborn will remain on Heard's legal team to work with Axelrod and Brown on the appeal. The reasons for Bredehoft's dismissal weren't made clear, though the lawyer is quoted as saying that it's time to "pass the baton" to the new team. Bredehoft had been heavily criticized during the trial while Johnny Depp's lawyers, including Camille Vasquez, had garnered widespread praise. In any case, Heard's new team is already hard at work without Bredehoft.
"We welcome the opportunity to represent Ms. Heard in this appeal as it is a case with important First Amendment implications for every America," Axelrod and Brown said in a joint statement.
A spokesperson for Heard added, "When it comes to protecting the fundamental right of Freedom of Speech, we look at the jury’s decision -- to paraphrase a famous quote -- not 'as the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning.' A different court warrants different representation, particularly as so much new evidence is now coming to light."
Amber Heard Suggested the Jury Was Swayed by Depp Supporters
Shortly after the verdict, Amber Heard spoke at length about the defamation trial in a Today interview with Savannah Guthrie. She said she "didn't blame" the jury for reaching their decision after listening to testimony offered by "paid employees" and others attempting to curry favor with a powerful person.
"How could they make a judgment?" Heard asked. "How could they not come to that conclusion? They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of nonstop relentless testimony from paid employees, and towards the end of the trial, 'randos,' as I say. I don't blame the jury. I don't blame them, I actually understand. He's a beloved character, and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor... Again, how could they, after listening to three and a half weeks of testimony about how I was a non-credible person. Not to believe a word that came out of my mouth."
Addressing how there has been a lot of criticism leveled against her on social media, Heard added, "Even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”
Time will tell if Heard's appeal is successful, but the new team seems to be confident in clearing Heard's name.