Marvel actor Jonathan Majors’ domestic violence trial began Wednesday in New York.
Majors, 34, is accused of assault and harassment stemming from an incident with his then-girlfriend Grace Jabbari in March.
Majors has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.
The actor entered criminal court early Wednesday wearing a long black coat and sunglasses, accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Meagan Good, and his defense attorney Priya Chaudhry.
He appeared to be carrying a Bible in his left hand.
Actor Jonathan Majors arrives with Meagan Good for jury selection in his assault and harassment case at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, November 29, 2023.Shannon Stapleton/Portal
During the trial, Majors’ lawyers argued that the actor’s “celebrity status” meant the courtroom should remain closed while the parties discussed an “evidential matter.” His lawyers believed the undisclosed matter was so sensitive that anything other than the closure and secrecy of the courtroom would significantly impact Majors’ ability to receive a fair trial.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Michael Gaffey agreed to Majors’ attorney’s request and ordered the courtroom closed to the public during arguments on the evidence matter. Gaffey said less intrusive measures would “not adequately protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial” when the press reported “prejudicial and inflammatory” material that might not even be considered admissible at trial.
Sealing the hearing and documents related to the matter is the “only way to prevent compromise of the jury pool,” Gaffey said.
A lawyer for media organizations had argued that the defense had been making public statements “like crazy” so there was no dispute about excessive publicity.
Following the arguments, the judge reserved the decision on the matter of evidence.
Before concluding the trial, the judge also agreed to a request by Chaudhry to prevent prosecutors from referring to Jabbari as a “victim,” arguing: “It is highly prejudicial to the jury to hear her as a ‘victim.'” The judge will admit Prosecutors say Jabbari was the victim of third-degree assault and aggravated harassment as charged.
Jury selection and opening statements are expected to take place on Thursday with the majors in attendance.
Jonathan Majors arrives for jury selection in his domestic violence case on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, in New York. Yuki Iwamura/AP
Majors was arrested after officers responded to a 911 call in Manhattan regarding an alleged domestic dispute. He is accused of twisting Jabbari’s arm behind her back, hitting her in the head and pushing her into a vehicle, a criminal complaint says. She was treated at a hospital for minor neck and head injuries, including a cut to her ear, police said.
The Marvel star has denied the attack and filed a countersuit against Jabbari, claiming he was the one who was attacked.
“During a harrowing four months, the life, career and reputation of Jonathan Majors, the true victim of this shameful ordeal, were destroyed,” Chaudhry said in a statement in August. “Yet he remains steadfast in his determination to be exonerated from this cruel ordeal.”
His lawyer had previously tried to postpone the trial because prosecutors had not presented evidence “in a timely manner.”
Jabbari was arrested in October in New York on multiple charges, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office later said it had decided not to prosecute her because the case had “no prosecutorial value.”
“The matter is now closed and sealed,” the office said in a statement in October.
The judge has yet to rule on a request from the Manhattan district attorney’s office to bar the defense from mentioning Jabbari’s arrest.
Jonathan Majors at the UK gala screening of Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania at the BFI IMAX Waterloo in London, February 16, 2023. Tolga Akmen/EPA via Shutterstock
Chaudhry said Majors could be heard on police body camera footage telling officers, “She slapped me” and “She tore my coat” before they arrested him. The defense claimed authorities failed to properly check his account before filing misdemeanor charges.
Majors is known for his roles in the Ant-Man films as well as his starring role in the Disney+ TV show Loki.
Majors is set to appear in the role of Kang the Conqueror in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
Majors was also nominated for an Emmy for his role in the HBO series “Lovecraft Country” and appeared in the films “Creed III,” “Da 5 Bloods” and “The Harder They Fall.”
Disney is the parent company of Marvel and ABC News.