Jonathan Majors lawyers evidence sealed jury selection domestic violence trial

Actor Jonathan Majors' domestic violence trial begins with his lawyers trying to keep evidence secret. He faces misdemeanor assault charges.

The opening day of Jonathan Majors' trial for domestic violence charges was marked by a contentious battle between the actor's legal team and the court, as well as prospective jurors being dismissed without answering questions.

Majors, 34, is facing misdemeanor assault charges for an alleged altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, which occurred on March 25. The incident reportedly took place while they were in a private car service traveling from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

A crucial decision expected from Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Michael Gaffey is whether prosecutors will be allowed to present evidence from sealed filings. The contents of these filings remain unknown, and Majors' lawyers are strongly opposing this move. The courtroom was closed for over an hour to deliberate on this matter, after a lawyer representing various media outlets objected to the sealing.

The nature of the evidence remains unclear, but it includes Majors' phone and iCloud records, as well as a report from the London Metropolitan Police related to an incident in September 2022. The details of this incident are currently unknown.

The allegations against Majors are that he reacted violently when Jabbari attempted to grab his phone, resulting in her finger being fractured and causing cuts and bruises as he tried to retrieve the device. Prosecutors also claim that Majors prevented Jabbari from leaving the car, grabbing her and throwing her back inside. Majors has pleaded not guilty to three counts of third-degree assault and related charges.

Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to present testimony from 14 witnesses over a period of approximately six days. Majors' legal team has stated that they plan to present a defense case, and they have accused the prosecution of conducting a "witch hunt" against their client.

Majors was accompanied to court by his girlfriend, Meagan Good, and was seen carrying a Bible, a notebook, and a coffee mug. When asked for comment as he left the court, he raised his fist.

Judge Gaffey is also considering requests from the district attorney's office to preclude any discussion of Jabbari's arrest. He questioned why Majors' cross-complaint against his ex, alleging that she assaulted him, was made months after the incident. Jabbari was briefly arrested by the NYPD last month before being released with a summons. Prosecutors quickly determined that the case had no merit and closed and sealed it.

Following his arrest, Majors was dropped by his management company and lost several lucrative deals. In addition, he was accused in a Rolling Stone exposé of mentally and physically abusing multiple former romantic partners and colleagues, allegations which he has denied.

The jury selection process will continue on Thursday, with opening statements expected to follow once the jury has been selected.