Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Case DA Suffers Another Loss, Judge Axes Special Prosecutor Co-Counsel Request

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In October 2021, the fatal shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchings sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Since then, the case has been a topic of ongoing legal battles, with Alec Baldwin and ex-Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed being charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Now, the New Mexico First Judicial District Attorney has suffered yet another setback in the case.

In a virtual hearing held recently, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer rejected the D.A.'s request to bring on a new special prosecutor for the case and serve as co-counsel. The D.A. had cited a shortage of manpower as a reason for needing the additional prosecutor, but the judge ruled that she could not have it both ways and must either prosecute the case on her own or with a special prosecutor.

This is the fourth setback for the D.A. in the case, which has seen the loss of nearly a third of her prosecution team and the dropping of a firearm enhancement charge. Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed are facing a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail and fines if found guilty. The case is set to go to a preliminary examination in May.

The ongoing legal battles have raised many questions about the entertainment industry's safety protocols and who should be held responsible for accidents that occur on film sets. The shooting on the Rust set has also led to renewed discussions about gun safety, particularly on movie sets.

It's worth noting that a resurrected Rust is set to go into production in Montana on April 20, as Deadline exclusively reported on March 16. Baldwin is set to star in the sequel, which will be directed again by Joel Souza, who was injured in the 2021 shooting. Hutchings' widower, Matthew Hutchings, is an executive producer for the film.

As the case continues to unfold, it's clear that many people are paying close attention. The entertainment industry will undoubtedly be watching the outcome of the case closely, as it may have significant implications for future film productions. For now, all eyes are on the preliminary examination set for May 3, and we will have to wait and see how the case progresses from there.

Deadline, "Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Case D.A. Suffers Another Loss As Judge Axes Special Prosecutor Co-Counsel Request," March 27, 2023, https://deadline.com/2023/03/alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-da-setback-halyna-hutchins-hannah-gutierrez-reed-1235310833/.