Santa Fe, N.M. — Attorneys representing Alec Baldwin have strongly opposed the reinstatement of manslaughter charges against him, challenging the necessity of reopening the case while demanding that New Mexico cover their legal fees due to what they describe as prosecutorial misconduct.
In a recent legal filing, Baldwin’s legal team contested an appeal from Kari Morrissey, the lead prosecutor, to reverse the decision that previously dismissed the charge. They accused Morrissey of withholding crucial evidence and misleading the court about its significance.
The controversy centers on the tragic October 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the “Rust” movie set, where Baldwin was rehearsing with a gun that unexpectedly discharged. Baldwin, a veteran actor and producer, could have faced up to 18 months in prison if convicted for the shooting.
The legal proceedings took a dramatic turn when District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the charges in July, after it was revealed that the prosecution had failed to provide the defense with a complete set of evidence, including a collection of bullets.
Morrissey had argued that these bullets, missed in the disclosure, were irrelevant to proving Baldwin’s guilt. However, Baldwin’s defense argued otherwise, stating that the full evidence might show a lack of negligence on Baldwin’s part.
Amidst these legal battles, an affidavit from Erlinda Johnson, Morrissey’s former co-counsel who resigned before the case’s dismissal, was introduced by Baldwin’s lawyers. Johnson alleged that despite her advice to voluntarily dismiss the charges following the discovery violations, Morrissey decided to proceed. Johnson stated her resignation was compelled by ethical obligations, contradicting claims that her departure was due to reluctance in addressing the discovery issues publicly.
Further complicating matters, it was revealed that prior to the trial, Baldwin’s legal team had requested documents only provided in heavily redacted form. Johnson claimed in her affidavit that Morrissey instructed her to ignore this request. However, Johnson and her team eventually reviewed and submitted thousands of pages of additional documents to the defense.
Following these events, Baldwin’s attorneys contended there is no legitimate ground to reopen the case, criticizing Morrissey’s attempts as procedurally flawed and lacking merit. They also requested that the court compensate Baldwin’s legal expenses, citing abuse of judicial processes by Morrissey.
The state, represented by Morrissey, may consider an appeal to a higher court if the motion to reinstate the charges fails. This comes as another figure in the case, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the film’s armorer, serves an 18-month sentence after her conviction this March for loading a live bullet into Baldwin’s gun. Reed has also claimed discovery violations in her trial and is seeking to have her conviction overturned, with a hearing scheduled soon.
The legal entanglements following the unfortunate incident on the set of “Rust” continue to unveil complexities and raise questions about accountability and procedural justice in high-profile cases.