Michael Jackson: The Verdict

The series looks at the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson, an event which drew massive amounts of attention both from the media and public alike. The whole world watched this case unfold as the trial progressed through various phases during its 12 weeks and ended on June 13, 2005 with a "Not Guilty" finding for Jackson.^[4] The documentary features many of the same types of individuals who were present in the court-room during the entire trial process including; jurors who served on the jury, reporters documenting events that occurred at the court-house, and others who were eye-witnesses during the trial including both prosecution and defense witnesses.^[2]

Each of the individuals included in this series provide a unique perspective related to evidence presented, witness statements, and final argument from both sides of the trial as well as their personal opinions about the verdict rendered by the jury on June 13, 2005. The series also covers the continued public interest in the trial since its conclusion and the ongoing debate about Jackson's legacy today.^[5]

Legal team

• Ron Zonen — prosecutor^[6]
• Mark Geragos — defense attorney
• Brian Oxman — Michael Jackson family attorney

Media

• Martin Bashir — journalist^[7]
• Diane Dimond — investigative journalist
• Trent Copeland — CBS trial analyst
• Kevin Smith — Splash News Agency

Jurors

• Melissa Herard — juror No. 8
• Tammy Evans — juror No. 6

Connection’s to Jackson

• J. Randy Taraborrelli — Jackson’s biographer^[8]
• Raymone Bain — Jackson’s publicist
• Stacy Brown — former Jackson family friend
• Vincent Amen — Jackson associate, 2002–2003
• Kerry Anderson — Director of security

Michael Jackson: The Verdict was directed by Nick Green and produced by Candle True Stories, with David Herman serving as showrunner and executive producer alongside Fiona Stourton and James Goldston.^[9] According to statements released through Netflix’s Tudum, Green and Stourton said the project was developed as a re-examination of the trial from a historical perspective. They noted that because cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom during the proceedings, much of the public understanding of the case had been shaped by outside reporting and commentary.^[5][10] According to Los Angeles Times, the production also interviewed journalists who covered the case at the time, with the intention of presenting the trial through the experiences of people who directly witnessed the events.^[2]

Netflix announced the series on May 20, 2026, alongside the release of its official trailer and confirmation of a June 3 premiere date.^[3] The trailer included archival footage related to the investigation at Neverland Ranch, courtroom coverage and interviews reflecting on the allegations and public reaction to the case.^[11] The release of the documentary followed renewed interest in Jackson’s life and career after the commercial success of the biographical film Michael (2026).^[10]

Audience viewership

Audience viewing figures show Michael Jackson: The Verdict was watched by 17.8 million people in its first five days of digital release worldwide in the English language the week ending June 7, 2026.^[12] It also was the most-viewed show reaching #1 in 61 countries during the same week with 17 in the Americas (including United States, Brazil, Canada), 29 in Europe (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Ireland), and #1 in Australia and New Zealand.^[13] It reached the top 10 in 89 countries the same week.^[14]