Wait, Why Is Johnny Depp's Ongoing Court Case in Fairfax?Home > Entertainment > Celebrity > Johnny DeppSource: Getty Images Here' s Why the Depp vs Heard Defamation Trial Is Taking Place in Fairfax VirginiaBy Allison DeGrusheMay 12 2022, Published 2:26 p.m. ET It's been one full week since we last saw Johnny Depp and Amber Heard delivering heartfelt testimones and battling it out in court, and we don't know what to do with our lives. The former couple's ongoing defamation trial dominated headlines and received heavy media coverage for weeks; however, ever since the high-profile court case went on a week-long break, everyone has seemed to move on ... except us.Article continues below advertisement From determining whether both parties are telling the truth to Amber's viral "my dog stepped on a bee" moment, we have you covered during this so-called drought. Nevertheless, there's one urgent matter that we have yet to cover: the court case's location. We know that Amber requested the trial take place in California, aka where the stars reside, but a judge dismissed her appeal. So, why is Johnny and Amber's court case in Fairfax, Va.? What's so special about it? Here's everything we know.Source: Getty ImagesArticle continues below advertisement Why is Johnny Depp and Amber Heard' s court case in Fairfax After Amber's published an opinion piece in The Washington Post in December 2018, Johnny sued his ex-wife for $50 million and claimed she defamed him. In his February 2019 suit, the Pirates of the Caribbean star also reiterated his allegations of Amber being the abuser in the relationship, noting that her own accusations were fraudulent. In August 2020, Amber countersued. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 36-year-old alleged Johnny coordinated a "harassment campaign via Twitter and orchestrating online petitions in an effort to get her fired from Aquaman and L’Oreal." Nearly three years since Johnny's suit, the trial is being held at Fairfax County Courthouse in Fairfax, Va.Article continues below advertisement @gafamilylawyers Reply to @justlaughing52 Why is the trial in Fairfax? #johnnydepp #amberheard #courttok #deppvheard #deppvsheard #lawyertiktok #atlantalawyer #atlantalawfirm #lawfirmlife original sound - Jenni Brown The reason for the court case taking place in Fairfax is simple: Per the Associated Press, the digital edition of The Washington Post is issued by computer servers located in the county. Therefore, Johnny is "within his rights to bring the case for Virginia." Additionally, the Nightmare on Elm Street actor's lawyers revealed that they brought the case to Fairfax because the laws (specifically the anti-SLAPP legislation) are "more favorable to their case."Article continues below advertisement Virgina' s lack of anti-SLAPP laws benefits Johnny and his team In April 2022, senior staff attorney Jennifer Nelson spoke with WRIC News and argued that the anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) law is "weaker" in Virginia than in other states. Per the outlet, Jennifer stated that these laws are "designed to deter powerful people and corporations from using expensive lawsuits and lengthy trials to suppress opposition. " @defamationlawyer Reply to @missy21212121 What is an Anti-SLAPP?? #johnnydepp #amberheard #antislaplaw #lawyer #defamationtrial #didyouknow #washingtonpost original sound - Aaron Minc Article continues below advertisement Also, Senator Scott Surovell told WRIC News that in states with more robust anti-SLAPP protection, "meritless cases are dismissed in the early stages, and a plaintiff can be forced to cover the defendant’s attorney’s fees." Since that's not the case in Virginia, Johnny and his team strategically avoided the possibility of having to pay Amber's legal expenses. Sure, with a net worth of $150 million, the fees would barely put a dent in Johnny's pocket; regardless, it would be an unjust request if Amber was actually fabricating her accounts to the jury.AdvertisementMore from Distractify What Does "Objection Non-Responsive" Mean? And How Does It Apply in the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard Trial? The Ongoing Depp vs. Heard Trial Is Going on Break — When Does It Resume? Was Amber Heard Caught Posing for a Crying Photo on the Stand? A Body Language Expert Weighs In (EXCLUSIVE) Latest Johnny Depp News and UpdatesAdvertisementABOUT DistractifyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDMCASitemapCONNECT with DistractifyLink to Facebook Link to TwitterLink to InstagramContact us by Email Copyright 2022 Distractify. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.