It has been revealed that key evidence in Jonathan Majors’ trial will only be heard behind closed doors. In the Marvel star’s first trial today, the judge in charge of the case agreed to clear all viewers, as otherwise would “threaten” the integrity of jury selection.
Majors was initially arrested in March following an altercation with a woman he was reportedly involved with at the time. He was later charged with multiple counts of misdemeanor assault and harassment and faces up to a year in prison if convicted.
Why Judges Agree to Closed Sessions to Hear Sealed Evidence
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Hours after Jonathan Majors arrived in court for his first day of misdemeanor assault and harassment, headlines about the case have emerged.
According to reports, Judge Michael Gaffey, who is in charge of Major’s trial, has agreed to hold closed sessions for prosecutors and the defense to present evidence not currently available to the public.
Ever since the charge was brought against the actor, it has been widely discussed by several news channels and social media. Majors’ attorney now believes that “revelation of this limited issue would irreparably taint the jury pool.”
After hearing the defense, Gaffey ruled that the information in question was “potentially prejudicial and inflammatory.” He also mentioned that allowing the motion to be heard in public would “harm the actor’s ability to impanel an impartial jury and receive a fair trial.”
Media Organization Wants Jonathan Majors Trial Evidence Uncovered
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Unsurprisingly, Gaffey’s decision did not sit well with some stakeholders, and as such, they argued in court that it should be changed.
“We’re flying blind,” said Katherine Bolger, a lawyer who represents media organizations opposed to covering up evidence.
Jonathan Majors and his girlfriend Meagan Good arrive at a trial for domestic violence at Manhattan Criminal Court in the US. #Marvel #MarvelStudios pic.twitter.com/TZeZbtMZ7J
— MarvelVerse (@MarvelVerse___) November 29, 2023
The attorney also pointed out that there was already “pre-trial publicity,” as if to suggest that the defense had no reason to request that the evidence remain sealed. To support his claim, he noted that numerous news outlets had reported previous allegations of misconduct by Majors.
However, Judge Gaffey argued that revealing the evidence would cause it to be reported by the press, possibly tainting the jury selection process.
Jonathan Majors Faces Up To A Year In Prison If Found Guilty
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Regarding the charges against the actor, Majors has consistently maintained his innocence. He could face up to a year in prison if found guilty at the end of the trial.
The charges were brought against him two days after his arrest in March by police responding to a 911 call from a woman named Grace Jabbari. At the time, police released a statement claiming Jabbari told them he was “assaulted” by Majors. They also reported that he “suffered minor injuries to his head and neck and was taken to an area hospital in stable condition.”
During the Majors case, Jabbari is expected to testify against the actor for prosecutors and has reportedly cooperated with them over the years. Prosecutors have also stated that his testimony was not quid pro quo, for dropping the assault charges against him that were initially brought against him.
Jonathan Majors Has Lost Many Opportunities Due to the Allegation
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In the meantime, Majors has lost many opportunities, amounting to millions of dollars since he made headlines in March after his arrest.
Per Deadlinehe was removed from the upcoming film adaptation of Walter Mosley’s 2004 novel, “The Man in My Basement,” a project he was set to executive produce.
Additionally, negotiations for his role in a biopic about the late musician Otis Redding fell through, and he was no longer considered for the film. It was also reported that Majors will no longer appear in advertising campaigns for the Texas Rangers MLB team.
Amid the loss of this project, the public relations company representing the star of “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” chose to cut ties with him, and the same decision was made by his manager. The actor also stepped down from being a board member of the Gotham Film and Media Institute.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
