nfl
Judge denies request to seal records in Josh Jacobs case
The judge who presided over the criminal case of Packers RB Josh Jacobs denied a request by the victim to have evidence permanently sealed.
Rob Demovsky · 24 September 2026 20:33 · 2 min
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The judge who presided over the criminal case of Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs denied a request by the victim to have evidence permanently sealed and instead turned the matter over to the police department that conducted the criminal investigation.
Brown County (Wisconsin) District Court judge Marc A. Hammer made the determination during a hearing Thursday. When his order goes into effect on Friday, it will cancel a temporary order to seal that he issued on Sept. 10.
However, it does not mean the records, which includes surveillance video outlined in the criminal report that states a portion of the incident was caught on camera, will be immediately released. Instead, the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department will handle any new requests made under public records laws.
ESPN and several media outlets previously filed requests for evidence in the case, and those requests must now be resubmitted once the seal is lifted.
If the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department decides to release the evidence, the victim or Jacobs will be entitled to appeal before anything is released.
A permanent sealing of evidence could have prevented the NFL from reviewing the video from the May 23 incident at Jacobs' home in Green Bay.
Jacobs was placed on the NFL's commissioner exempt list on Aug. 30 and cannot play or practice. He could be subject to a suspension once the NFL concludes its investigation. Time spent on the commissioner exempt list would count toward a suspension. Thursday's ruling, however, does not guarantee that the NFL will get the video, as it would have to file a request as well.
According to the criminal complaint, Jacobs threw the woman, identified as "ANM," to the ground and damaged her phone, and there is surveillance video of the portion of the incident that took place in Jacobs' garage.
Jacobs entered a no contest plea on Sept. 10. He was convicted of battery and fined $1,000 and agreed to a deferred judgement agreement on a charge of damage to property. He was ordered to have no contact with the victim, pay restitution, attend counseling and be under supervision for one year. Both were misdemeanors charges.
