A New York judge presiding over Luigi Mangione’s state murder case has granted the defense lawyers’ request for unrestricted media access to the criminal defendant’s upcoming trial.
At a court hearing on Tuesday, Judge Gregory Carro determined that an overflow room could be used to allow the press and the public to attend the state trial next month. If the courtroom is full, attendees will be able to watch a closed-circuit video feed of the trial. Carro said between 84 and 86 news organizations are expected to attend the trial.
Jury selection in the case is set to begin on Sept. 8. Carro revealed the jury will be anonymous, given the high-profile nature of the case.
Mangione’s defense attorneys and state prosecutors were feuding over whether the accused assassin’s September trial should be granted media access.
The defense wanted a live broadcast of the trial and no restrictions on the number of reporters who could cover the court proceeding. Mangione’s attorneys alleged Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office selected a limited number of reporters to cover the trial, but the prosecution pushed back against that claim.
During the hearing, the judge criticized the defense for suggesting Bragg was secretly involved in determining media access.
Prosecutors expressed concerns about Mangione’s fans during the trial and how they may try to intimidate or harass witnesses or jurors, and argued against the judge allowing an overflow room inside the courthouse.
Meanwhile, Mangione’s lawyers contended that their client was being denied his constitutional right to a fair trial if the media restrictions were imposed.
Tuesday’s hearing is set to be the defendant’s last court appearance before the trial.
“At this time, we will adjourn until Sept. 8,” Carro said. “Enjoy the rest of the summer.”
Mangione stands accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in downtown Manhattan in December 2024.
The suspect was subsequently arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after an employee and a customer recognized him from surveillance photos shared by the New York Police Department. He was charged in Pennsylvania with local felony and misdemeanor offenses related to the weapons and fraudulent identification found in his possession.
The 28-year-old man faces several state charges related to murder and firearms offenses in New York, whereas the federal charges primarily center on interstate stalking resulting in the healthcare executive’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If convicted at the end of the state trial, Mangione could face 25 years to life in prison for his crimes.
LUIGI MANGIONE FEDERAL TRIAL PUSHED BACK TO JANUARY
If convicted on the federal charges, he could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The death penalty is no longer an option in the federal case.
The federal trial is scheduled to start with jury selection on Jan. 5, 2027. That trial was originally slated for October.