Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein will not have to fight a defamation lawsuit filed by actress Ashley Judd until after his criminal sexual assault trial, a California federal judge ruled. In April 2018, Judd sued the producer, claiming he sexually harassed her and bad-mouthed her to filmmaker Peter Jackson, which cost her a part in The Lord of the Rings.

In January, Weinstein asked Gutierrez to stay the suit. He argued that he needed to preserve his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in the matter and therefore could not adequately defend himself against Judd.