Cornell Rape Case May Face Depp-Heard Jury Issue

The alleged gang rape case involving Cornell University students could run into the same jury problem that defined the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial, TMZ reports.

Jeffrey Blevins, a journalism professor at the University of Cincinnati, said on "TMZ Live" that the online conversation around the case is already deeply personal and emotional, making it tough to seat an impartial jury. Traditional media, he noted, tends to stick closer to legal questions like New York law, intoxication and consent, while social media is far more charged.

Blevins pointed out that both sides are facing online backlash: some of the accused men and their parents have been doxxed, while others are trying to identify the plaintiff, known as Jane Doe.

"That kind of online warfare reminds me of the Depp-Heard trial," Blevins said, per TMZ.

In that case, a seven-person jury found Heard defamed Depp and awarded him over $10 million after a six-week trial. It also awarded Heard $2 million in damages for a statement by one of Depp's lawyers. Social media played a massive role in shaping public opinion before the verdict.

Blevins said the Cornell case could follow a similar path, with people filtering allegations through their own experiences and deciding what they believe long before a jury hears evidence.

The full interview on "TMZ Live" explains why the court of public opinion may complicate an already difficult courtroom situation.

• Amber Heard
• Cornell
• Jeffrey Blevins
• Johnny Depp
• jury bias
• social media