A New Mexico judge has firmly rejected actor Alec Baldwin's attempt to dismiss the case against him, paving the way for a high-profile trial in July. Baldwin faces serious manslaughter charges stemming from the tragic accidental shooting death of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
On Friday, Santa Fe judge Mary Sommer dismissed Baldwin's bid to throw out the indictment, ruling that there was no evidence of bias or impropriety on the part of prosecutors or the grand jury. "The court finds no prosecutorial bad faith," stated the order, a damning blow to Baldwin's defense efforts.
As a producer on the low-budget Western film, Baldwin stands accused of negligently discharging a firearm during a scene that only required him to draw it from its holster. Prosecutors allege that his disregard for industry safety norms, coupled with skipping initial firearms training and hiring an inexperienced armorer, endangered the lives of others on set. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 18 months in prison.
Baldwin's attempts to dismiss the case were multifaceted. He claimed that the prosecution had acted in bad faith, withholding crucial evidence that could have cleared his name. He further alleged that the grand jury had not been properly instructed in its assessment of the charges against him, a rare occurrence in grand jury proceedings.
However, Judge Sommer's ruling was unwavering. She rejected Baldwin's claims of prosecutorial misconduct, finding no evidence of dishonesty or improper motive in the presentation of evidence to the grand jury. On the issue of suppressed evidence, Sommer ruled that prosecutors were not obligated to present favorable evidence on Baldwin's behalf. She emphasized the prosecutor's "broad discretion" in choosing what evidence to present to the grand jury and stated that courts would not second-guess such decisions once an indictment had been issued.
The court also sided with the district attorney's office in dismissing allegations that the jurors had not been properly instructed or that the prosecution had failed to follow rulings made by the judge overseeing the grand jury.
This ruling keeps Baldwin's trial firmly on the calendar for July 9, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle that will captivate the nation. It follows the April sentencing of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the Rust armorer who loaded the fatal live round into the gun Baldwin held when it discharged, to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. The upcoming trial will be a closely watched event, not only for the outcome of Baldwin's fate but also for the insights it may provide into the safety measures and protocols within the film industry.
