Judge seals video in Josh Jacobs case

The video of the altercation that resulted in Packers running back Josh Jacobs pleading no contest to multiple misdemeanor charges could complicate his football career, if/when it’s ever released.

For now, it won’t be.

Via James Stratton of WISN, Judge Marc Hammer has signed an order “temporarily” sealing the evidence in the case. Including the video.

The sealing of the evidence was requested not by the prosecution or by the victim but by Jacobs.

From the order: “The Court finds that public disclosure of the Discovery Material would threaten or substantially impair Defendant’s and [the victim’s] privacy, dignity, personal security, emotional wellbeing, or ability to participate safely in the criminal-justice process. This protection is not to impede any legitimate law-enforcement function, criminal prosecution judicial proceeding, or disclosure otherwise required by law, but to prevent unnecessary public dissemination of information that identifies [the victim], reveals intimate or sensitive details of [the victim] or the Defendant, or creates a material risk of harm.”

The order was granted “pending a further Motion to be filed by [the victim] and/or Defendant.”

The situation creates a quandary for the NFL. Will the league tell Jacobs he can’t play until he asks for the video to be released? Or will the league welcome the reality that the video won’t be seen by the general public?

The situation conjures instant memories of the notorious Ray Rice video. The league didn’t insist on seeing it. Then, TMZ obtained it. All hell broke loose for the NFL, with Rice’s career ending and the Commissioner spending a week or so wondering whether he’d have to resign, after the Associated Press reported that the NFL had seen the video before it was published.

Video changes everything. Knowing what happened is one thing; seeing it is another.

Why else would Jacobs want it to be hidden from view? It will be interesting to see whether the league tries to force Jacobs to secure the video’s release, or whether it shrugs at the fact that it’s not available.

For now, Jacobs is on paid leave. He’ll remain there until the NFL determines the discipline to be imposed under the Personal Conduct Policy. How can it properly determine the discipline without seeing the video?

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