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Alec Baldwin's Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Rust Prosecution Dismissed
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News18•01-10-2026, 09:45
Alec Baldwin's Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Rust Prosecution Dismissed
- •A US judge dismissed Alec Baldwin’s civil rights lawsuit against Santa Fe officials regarding the prosecution for the accidental shooting death of ‘Rust’ cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
- •US District Judge Kea Riggs ruled that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey is protected by absolute prosecutorial immunity, despite acknowledging a “very disturbing picture of malicious prosecution.”
- •Baldwin had accused Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and Morrissey of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations, alleging concealment and manipulation of evidence.
- •The criminal case against Baldwin was derailed by a dispute involving live ammunition not inventoried or disclosed to the defense, with the court finding prosecution “intentionally and deliberately withheld” key evidence.
- •Riggs noted Morrissey’s repeated failures to meet discovery obligations and “inconsistent” testimony regarding suppressed evidence, but stated prosecutorial immunity applies even to serious alleged misconduct.
Key Questions Answered
A US judge dismissed Alec Baldwin's civil rights lawsuit because special prosecutor Kari Morrissey is protected by absolute prosecutorial immunity, which applies even in cases involving serious alleged misconduct.
The criminal case was derailed and dismissed after the court found that the prosecution had intentionally and deliberately withheld key evidence, including uninventoried live ammunition, from the defense.
Alec Baldwin is scheduled to face a civil trial in October to address negligence claims and whether his actions on the set of Rust amounted to reckless conduct.
