Trial involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni delayed

The civil trial involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni has been postponed by two months, with proceedings now set to begin May 18, 2026, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The delay was announced Tuesday, Dec. 9, by Judge Lewis J. Liman during a post-discovery hearing. The trial, originally scheduled for March 9, had to be rescheduled because the judge is overseeing two criminal trials, which take precedence.

Both Lively, 38, and Baldoni, 41, are expected to testify when the case proceeds. The next scheduled hearing is set for Jan. 22, when oral arguments on summary judgment will be presented. Judge Liman also instructed the parties to consult a magistrate judge to discuss a potential settlement.

Lively filed the lawsuit in December 2024, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation by Baldoni and others during the production of It Ends With Us.

She is seeking more than $160 million in damages. Baldoni’s $400 million countersuit, which alleged extortion and defamation, has been dismissed.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, previously stated that his client “wants to be vindicated” and is focused on telling his side of the story in court.

Lively, meanwhile, shared on Instagram that she feels “more resolved than ever to continue to stand for every woman’s right to have a voice in protecting themselves, including their safety, their integrity, their dignity and their story.”