Judge tosses most of Alec Baldwin’s claims against prosecutors over 'Rust' shooting
This aerial photo shows the movie set of “Rust” at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021. (Photo by Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press)
Citing prosecutorial immunity, a federal judge in New Mexico has dismissed the bulk of actor Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit against the prosecutors who charged him in the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of the movie Rust.
Courthouse News Service reported Thursday that U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs of the District of New Mexico held that prosecutors Mary Carmack-Altwies and Andrea Reeb were entitled to immunity on most of the counts filed by Baldwin. Riggs’ decision came weeks after she dismissed claims against special prosecutor Kari Morrissey on the same grounds.
“Even though the court is concerned by the allegations of misconduct by defendants Carmack-Altwies and Reeb, it recognizes that, as prosecutors, they are entitled to invoke the protection of absolute prosecutorial immunity,” Riggs wrote in her decision.
The case stems from an October 2021 incident on the set of Rust where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died after a pistol that Baldwin was holding discharged during rehearsal.
Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter in 2023, but the case was dismissed in July 2024 after the judge ruled that prosecutors had engaged in “egregious discovery violations.” Baldwin then sued in early 2025, claiming prosecutorial misconduct, defamation and civil rights violations.
According to Courthouse News Service, Riggs was concerned by the misconduct allegations but found that immunity applied. Riggs, however, ruled that Carmack-Altwies was not immune from claims tied to her alleged role in investigating and destroying the gun, which Riggs said was “too far removed from the judicial process.” Claims over her alleged media statements and involvement in the law enforcement investigation will also proceed because she had not sought their dismissal.
Riggs also found that Reeb violated separation of powers by serving as a state legislator and as a special prosecutor but concluded that she retained authority to prosecute. Riggs declined to dismiss a few “vague and undated allegations” against Reeb, saying it was premature to decide whether not immunity applied.
The prosecutors’ lawyer Luis Robles said his clients were “relieved” and “heartened” in a statement to Courthouse News Service.
Baldwin’s counsel did not respond to a Courthouse News Service request for comment.
See also:
Alec Baldwin headed back to trial for ‘Rust’ negligence lawsuit
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