Attorneys for victim in Josh Jacobs battery case file motion to seal evidence

Attorneys representing the former girlfriend of Josh Jacobs filed a motion Tuesday to seal evidence and discovery materials in the battery case involving the Green Bay Packers’ running back, according to court records.

The victim’s attorneys cited Marsy’s Law in the motion filed in Brown County (Wis.) Circuit Court, noting that it guarantees victims “the rights to dignity, respect, courtesy, sensitivity, fairness, privacy and reasonable protection.” The victim is identified as “ANM” in court documents. In the filing, her attorneys said that sealing the evidence “avoids unnecessary public attention, protects ANM’s contact information and prevents anticipated economic, physical and psychological effects.”

“The motion is consistent with our client’s desire to protect her privacy, particularly in light of Mr. Jacobs taking responsibility for his actions in the criminal proceeding,” attorneys Ramses Jalalpour and Amir Tahmassebi said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The attorneys did not respond to a request for comment from The Athletic.

A spokesperson working with Jacobs’ attorneys, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the NFL player’s representatives would not comment on Tuesday’s filing.

Brown County Circuit Court Judge Marc A. Hammer temporarily sealed evidence in the case on Thursday after Jacobs pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges — battery and criminal damage to property — stemming from the May 23 incident at his home.

Jacobs’ attorneys said he was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus costs on the misdemeanor battery charge. The court will suspend the proceeding on the criminal charge for damage to property for 12 months, after which it will be dismissed upon the completion of the terms of the plea agreement. Jacobs was ordered to avoid contacting the victim, attend counseling and pay restitution to the victim.

It remains to be seen whether the NFL will suspend Jacobs, but the sealing of evidence could prevent the league from reviewing video from the incident as it considers his status.

“The matter remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement to The Athletic.

Jacobs was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list Aug. 30, meaning he has been unable to practice or play until NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reinstates him. Shortly after Thursday’s no-contest plea, the NFL released a statement saying that Jacobs’ status on the list is unchanged.

The Hobart/Lawrence Police Department initially arrested Jacobs on May 26 on five charges related to domestic abuse — felony strangulation and suffocation, and four misdemeanors: battery (domestic abuse), criminal property damage (domestic abuse), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse) and intimidation of a victim. Jacobs was jailed but released the following day after the Brown County District Attorney’s Office found insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. After a months-long investigation, the D.A.’s office released an incident report last month and charged Jacobs with two misdemeanors.

— Matt Schneidman contributed to this report.