A mber Heard’s lawyers revised details of a contentious article about Johnny Depp which her former husband is now suing over, a court has been told.

Jurors in the libel lawsuit brought forward by Depp, 58, against Heard, 36, heard testimony on Thursday from Terence Dougherty, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The ACLU drafted the 2018 Washington Post article under Heard’s name in part to reflect her role as an ambassador for gender violence issues for the organisation.

Mr Dougherty said numerous lawyers reviewed the article in order to ensure it did not violate a non-disclosure agreement between Depp and Heard when they divorced in 2016.

During discussions, lawyers for the Aquaman star sent back an edited version of Heard’s article which “specifically neutered much of the copy regarding her marriage,' according to an email from Jessica Weitz, an ACLU employee who coordinated with the actress.

Actor Johnny Depp appears in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax Va / AP

According to the email, however, Heard was looking for a way to have a deleted passage restored to the article.

The various drafts of the articles were not shown to the jury so it's not clear how many personal details were in the first draft and how much Heard's lawyers had removed.

But the final version contains very little about Heard's personal experiences.

In addition to the passage about 'a public figure representing domestic abuse,' in another passage she writes, 'I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse.'

Depp sued for $50million in Fairfax County Circuit Court after the article was published, in which Heard says that 'two years ago, I became a public figure representing domestic abuse, and I felt the full force of our culture's wrath for women who speak out.'

Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit at the County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virgina (2022) 1 /45 Johnny Depp v Amber Heard defamation lawsuit at the County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virgina (2022) AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images AP POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court . POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images Fairfax County Court Fairfax County Court Amber Heard was tearful in court (Elizabeth Frantz/AP) AP Actor Johnny Depp walks during his defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on April 27, 2022. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Johnny Depp greets his legal team as he arrives in the courtroom AP Actor Amber Heard speaks to a member of her legal team after a recess amid her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her POOL/AFP via Getty Images Actor Amber Heard appears in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, April 28, 2022. AP Amber Heard took to the stand on Wednesday REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates what he claims was an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard speaks with her legal team in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard filming Johnny Depp smashing kitchen cupboards Handout Amber Heard looks on at the end of the second day of her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s testimony during his defamation trial against her, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp is seen laying in a hospital after his finger was injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS Johnny Depp testifies at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard arrives in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Amber Heard attends her ex-husband Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against her, as a picture of an injury to his face is seen on a screen, at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS A knife with an inscription “from Amber Heard to Johnny Depp” on the blade is seen during Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse POOL/AFP via Getty Images Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard listens in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Court AP Evidence appears on a monitor in the courtroom during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Amber Heard is embraced as she arrives at the start of the day during the 50 million US dollar Depp vs Heard defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court REUTERS Johnny Depp demonstrates how he claims he shielded himself from an alleged attack by his ex-wife Amber Heard as he testifies during his defamation trial against Heard POOL/AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp displays the middle finger of his hand, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in 2015 AP Johnny Depp holds up his bandaged finger, injured while he and his ex-wife Amber Heard were in Australia in March 2015, in this evidence photograph that was displayed as Depp testified during his defamation trial against Heard at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse REUTERS

Depp's lawyers say that's a clear reference to abuse allegations she levied against Depp in 2016 that Depp says are untrue.

The Aquaman star, is countersuing for $100 million over Depp’s claims that she is lying.

The trial continues.