Heard’s “Play It Again” Mistrial Gambit

Amber Heard’s chances of getting a new trial if her lawyers prove a wrong juror was seated in Depp’s libel suit are about as good as the warring actor & actress being teamed up in a remake of “Casablanca.”

As Heard’s legal team said in a Friday filing, Juror Number 15 was supposed to have been a 77-year-old, whereas it apparently was a 52-year-old living at the same address listed in court records who showed up for service … and served on the jury for six weeks until the $10M verdict against Heard (and a $2M counter verdict against Depp) was entered. Heard’s lawyers say the usual courtroom “safeguards” didn’t work this time and the correct identity of the juror wasn’t verified; as a result, Heard’s due process rights were “compromised” & a mistrial should be declared, a new one ordered.

But, as Jack Sparrow might say with a belch, “looks can be deceiving”, especially in our legal system. Former US Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News the alleged mix up, especially if an innocent mistake, is simply “not grounds for a mistrial or for the verdict to be overturned.” And even if somehow intentionally committed by some deranged court official, Rahmani explained, “her lawyer would have to prove that the [improperly seated] juror … could not have been fair and impartial.” Good luck with walking that plank.

Davd Soul