Expert weighs in on judge’s decision to disallow some evidence in Alec Baldwin trial

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – In Santa Fe County District Court on Monday, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer addressed several key issues in a motion hearing for Alec Baldwin’s upcoming involuntary manslaughter trial. Baldwin faces charges following the 2021 shooting on the set of the film “Rust,” which resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

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Judge Sommer expressed difficulty with the prosecution’s argument that Baldwin, as a producer, failed to follow guidelines. “I’m having real difficulty with the state’s position that they want to show as a producer he didn’t follow guidelines,” the judge stated. This led her to rule against the state’s attempt to introduce Baldwin’s producer role as evidence. “I’m denying evidence of his status as a producer,” Judge Sommer said.

The prosecution and defense debated over what evidence should be admissible in court. The judge ruled that the jury would not hear about Baldwin’s behavior on set, including allegations of him yelling at crew members, nor testimony blaming Assistant Director David Halls, who pled no contest to negligent use of a firearm for failing to properly check the gun.

Legal experts believe these rulings could impact the prosecution’s case. Professor Joshua Kastenberg of the University of New Mexico School of Law commented on the pre-trial evidentiary rulings. “Anytime the judge issued an evidentiary ruling like this on the eve of a trial, it caused me to have to shift trial tactics, and it generally wasn’t good for the case I was presenting,” Kastenberg said, drawing from his experience as a federal prosecutor.

As the trial approaches, it remains to be seen how Monday’s rulings will affect the outcome. Professor Kastenberg states, “I think you can’t really get a flavor of the case until you hear the opening statements of the prosecution.”

Court proceedings are expected to pick back up on Tuesday with jury selection and the trial is expected to last until July 19.

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