Significant Turn in Rust Case: Judge Rules Alec Baldwin’s Producer Role Irrelevant

Alec Baldwin won a major legal victory before his involuntary manslaughter trial for the 2021 Rust set shooting. A New Mexico court rejected prosecutors’ arguments to include Baldwin’s co-producer involvement in the trial, Deadline reported. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer’s Monday pre-trial motions order bars prosecutors from utilizing Baldwin’s dual job as evidence.

A live round from Baldwin’s pretend rifle killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza during a rehearsal at Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, on October 21, 2021. Baldwin, who denies guilt, may be imprisoned for 18 months and fined heavily.

In the accident, prosecutors claimed Baldwin was responsible because he was a producer and aware of on-set safety hazards. However, Judge Sommer’s judgment tries to avoid jury confusion and unjust prejudice against Baldwin.

Baldwin’s defense team, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, has been focusing on discovering procedural challenges to exclude material from the trial. Judge Sommer doubted she could dismiss the lawsuit, but she pushed both sides to resolve document disagreements quickly.

Baldwin faces civil lawsuits in California and New Mexico over the Rust incident in addition to the criminal prosecution. After the disaster, $1.6 million in film tax incentives were revoked, causing complications. Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s widower, settled for these incentives.

For her weapons recklessness, former armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter. She invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during Baldwin’s pre-trial procedures despite being a witness.

The tragedy-related film Rust has been completed but not distributed.