Debate Rages After Heard Trial Stenographer Socializes With Johnny Depp

The stenographer from the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard has been accused by some of potentially being biased after she was seen allegedly "partying" with Depp and his team.

Judy Bellinger was seen hugging Depp on Friday, May 27, the final day of the trial, in a video widely shared across social media. Supporters of Heard have claimed this is proof that it was not a fair trial as it was an example of non-impartial behavior, five days before the verdict was revealed. Bellinger has since spoken out to share her side of events and denied that she was "partying" with Depp.

Depp recently won his multi-million dollar defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Heard over comments she made in a 2018 op-ed. The trial itself and the recent verdict caused a huge debate online as people picked their sides.

Bellinger is a stenographer who works for Planet Depos, a private firm hired by both Depp and Heard's teams to record everything said in court. She explained in an interview with Law & Crime how she came to be filmed with Depp and his legal team after the trial had ended.

"I guess Johnny had told them he would really like to meet the court reporter," Bellinger said. She had arranged to pick up her equipment to transcribe the case from Ben Chew, Depp's lawyer, as she was locked out of the courtroom. Bellinger arranged to pick up her computer from Depp's team at the hotel they were staying at. "Which was shocking to me. I'm like, 'I'm just the court reporter'."

She approached the hospitality room at the hotel where Depp's team was gathered after the trial had ended. "Johnny was in there, and so I had to go in there and get my equipment, and I saw him, and they're like 'he really wants to meet you'," Bellinger recalled. "I was probably in there for less than 10 minutes, and he just hugged me and thanked me again. And I hugged a couple of other people there, and I got my equipment and I came out, left, and went home."

Those defending Heard were aghast to see the video of Bellinger, referred only to as "Judy" at that point, as she hugged Depp and high-fived other members of his team after the trial had finished.

The video was viewed, shared and commented on across social media, with Twitter user @peach_jamx claiming it was proof that "Amber Heard NEVER received a fair trial." They argued that legally court reporters, such as Bellinger, are required to be impartial.

Bellinger was seemingly targeted by many online as they shared previous clips from throughout the trial where Bellinger and Depp can be seen laughing together in the Fairfax County courthouse in Virginia.

Law & Crime host Angenette Levy defended Bellinger and attempted to correct a lot of the statements being made about her online. She defended Bellinger in a series of tweets and finished by saying, "Judy is being targeted online. LEAVE HER ALONE. She did nothing wrong."

Reflecting on the online reaction which suggested she was "partying" with Depp, Bellinger told Law & Crime, "That did not happen. I had like a 50-minute drive home from here so, no, that did not happen."

Bellinger, referred to as simply the "court stenographer," was also widely discussed on Reddit as people discussed the appropriateness of Bellinger being at the hotel with Depp's team, but also her manner with Depp throughout the trial.

"There was another picture of her shaking JD's hand and her beaming as if she met her crush," user @ILoveRegenHealth wrote, "Not only is that bad behavior, it's not good behavior if we're dealing with a domestic abuse case. And once again, imagine if Amber was shaking hands with the stenographer and smiling wide."

The same user also commented on how there may have been other factors in the trial that may have affected the outcome. "Chanley Painter from CourtTV last week said two jurors smiled at Johnny Depp as he sat down near them." the user continued, "When I read that I had a sick feeling at least two of them were Pro-Depp from the start."

Newsweek has reached out to Bellinger's employers Planet Depos and Depp's legal team for comment.