Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs enters a Brown County courtroom Sept. 10, 2026, to plead no contest to misdemeanor charges in connection with an altercation with his girlfriend. (Pool image)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs and his ex-girlfriend filed separate lawsuits, seeking to prevent the release of video from an altercation between them.
Jacobs was convicted of misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property charges for the May 23 incident at his Hobart home.
After the criminal case was concluded, a judge lifted the ban on the release of the video. Subsequently, media outlets requested the video from the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department. The department said it would release video, but that triggered a window for Jacobs to object.
In the suits filed late Wednesday, Jacobs and the woman, identified as “Jane Doe ANM,” did just that.
“ANM hereby seeks an order restraining the HLPD from providing access to or otherwise disseminating, distributing, or publishing the Requested Records. The relief sought is necessary to protect ANM’s privacy, dignity, personal security, and emotional well-being and to prevent unnecessary public dissemination of identifying and sensitive victim information pursuant to Marsy’ Law,” the suit states.
Marsy’s Law is a Constitutional amendment Wisconsin residents approved, guaranteeing victims’ rights.
Her suit notes that the law presumes records are open and subject to release.
“Although Wisconsin law strongly favors public access to governmental and court records, that presumption is not absolute. Wisconsin’s public records policy recognizes both the public interest in access to information concerning governmental affairs and the existence of exceptional circumstances in which competing interests justify restricting disclosure. Wis. Stat. 19.31. Here, the constitutional protections afforded to ANM under Marsy’s Law provide substantial countervailing interests that must be considered alongside the general policy favoring public access,” it states.
Jacobs supported ANM’s position.
“Plaintiff joins ANM’s position and supports her request to protect her privacy, dignity, personal security, emotional well-being, and ability to participate safely in the criminal justice process. ANM is a crime victim who seeks closure, not public attention. ANM is not publicly known by her identity and has deliberately avoided public discourse concerning the underlying incident. Public release of records that identify, depict, locate, or disclose sensitive information concerning ANM would force unwanted exposure upon her and risk revictimizing her through renewed public scrutiny,” the suit states.
“Plaintiff requests that Defendant be prohibited from publicly releasing information that directly or indirectly identifies, locates, depicts, or reveals private or sensitive information concerning ANM. Redaction limited to names or faces would not adequately protect ANM. In addition, with today’s advanced AI her body shape and other indicia of her identity in the video could lead to identifying her,” it states.
Jacobs also cites concerns for his personal safety and property.
“Public sports figures have been targeted for robbery and related property crimes. The public availability of Plaintiff’s schedule or travel information increases the risk that persons could identify periods when Plaintiff is away from home and use released information concerning the residence, garage, access points, security arrangements, or property to target the property. Widespread public dissemination of those details would materially increase Plaintiff’s vulnerability to theft, burglary, robbery, trespass, or other targeted criminal conduct,” the suit states.
The suit lists a series of requests, asking that the video and records not be released, but, if they are, what measures should be taken to protect identities and personal information.
The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department has ten days to file a response to the lawsuit.
No hearings have been scheduled.
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