SANTA FE, N.M. — In a win for Alec Baldwin , a judge has ruled that jurors at his manslaughter trial will not hear evidence of his status as a producer on “ Rust .
” Baldwin appeared at a pre-trial hearing on Monday, the day before jury selection is set to begin. He is accused of negligently shooting “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Opening statements will be held on Wednesday.
The judge’s ruling means the trial will focus on Baldwin’s conduct as an actor, and make it harder for prosecutors to blame him for systemic failures on set. The defense had argued that any suggestion that Baldwin was “the boss,” and therefore bore extra responsibility for safety, would confuse the issues in the case. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer agreed.
“I am denying evidence of his status as a producer,” the judge ruled. The judge also said she would exclude video evidence of Baldwin yelling at the crew or rushing the crew, saying that it does not shed light on the key question of the actor’s alleged negligence. “None of that is relevant,” she said.
She said she will allow prosecutors to show video of Baldwin using his gun on set. Prosecutors have argued that those videos show Baldwin acting in a cavalier manner, cocking and decocking the gun for no reason, firing blanks in the direction of the crew and firing a blank after the director called “cut.” The prosecution also intends to use the videos to prove that Baldwin’s gun was working properly bef.