In an unusual legal maneuver, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have jointly submitted a list of questions for potential jurors that includes inquiries about their familiarity with high-profile celebrities like Taylor Swift and Ryan Reynolds.
According to court documents obtained exclusively, the actors' legal teams collaborated on a questionnaire that asks prospective jurors: "Do you know any of the following people that you may hear from or about over the course of the trial?" The list features numerous celebrity names including Taylor Swift, Ryan Reynolds, Hasan Minhaj, Jenny Slate, author Colleen Hoover, and Blake Lively's sister, Robyn Lively.
Legal experts note that while it's common for attorneys to screen jurors for potential biases, the inclusion of such prominent cultural figures is noteworthy. The court may face challenges finding jurors unfamiliar with global superstars like Swift and Reynolds.
"The two sides worked on the list of questions together—but that doesn't mean they've agreed on every single one," a source familiar with the proceedings revealed.
One point of contention involves question #36. Lively's team wants to ask: "Do you have a view that because a person has brought a lawsuit, those claims necessarily have merit?" Meanwhile, Baldoni's attorneys have proposed rewording it to specifically reference "a woman has brought a lawsuit accusing someone of harassment, discrimination or retaliation." Lively's legal team argues this gender-focused framing is inappropriate.
The trial, scheduled to begin next month, follows a recent legal victory for Baldoni when a judge dismissed Lively's sexual harassment and defamation claims. The proceedings stem from the actors' professional relationship during the production of "It Ends With Us," where they co-starred before their relationship deteriorated into litigation.
Jury selection is expected to be particularly complex given the celebrity nature of both parties and the potential witnesses involved. Legal analysts suggest the questionnaire reflects concerns about juror impartiality in a case involving such well-known public figures.