Luigi Mangione appeared in a New York Metropolis federal courtroom on Friday as his legal professionals attempt to bar the Justice Division from looking for the loss of life penalty for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The pivotal listening to is Mangione’s first federal court docket look since he pleaded not responsible to homicide and stalking prices at his arraignment in April 2025.
Mangione arrived at court docket simply after 11 a.m. His legs have been shackled, however his arms have been free. He was carrying a tan jail jumpsuit and shook arms together with his attorneys.
Mangione’s court docket appearances typically appeal to a crowd, and a small group of protesters in opposition to the loss of life penalty rallied exterior the Manhattan courthouse.
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Photos
That mentioned, the courtroom was not full. There have been principally journalists within the gallery, together with some attorneys and several other members of the general public.
Choose says trial date not more likely to be introduced any time quickly
The choose mentioned that the end result of the movement to dismiss two of the counts in opposition to Mangione will affect the trial date, and he due to this fact thinks the trial date will not be settled Friday.
The choose and Mangione’s protection then mentioned the proof present in Mangione’s backpack, together with his journal. The choose appeared to specific skepticism towards the protection’s argument that officers recovering Mangione’s backpack and taking it to the station for examination was inappropriate.
Mangione’s protection group argued that whereas officers had the correct to safeguard the backpack, they’d not have the correct to undergo it and stock it with no search warrant.
The choose indicated he did not suppose will probably be mandatory to carry a separate proof listening to, as was the case in his state trial.
What’s at situation in Mangione’s listening to
New York Legislation Faculty Professor Anna Cominsky Cominsky mentioned the important thing points the federal choose might be are whether or not sure prices needs to be dismissed and whether or not the loss of life penalty needs to be on the desk.
Mangione’s protection group is making an attempt to get the homicide by firearm cost thrown out. That cost permits the federal authorities to hunt the loss of life penalty.
“That argument particularly may be very legislation particular. It has to do with whether or not or not there was against the law of violence being dedicated in reference to the homicide. There’s quite a lot of case legislation that interprets that and that’s going to be a really technical, authorized argument,” Cominsky mentioned.
The choose may even be figuring out if the contents of Mangione’s backpack needs to be used as proof within the trial. The black backpack, which Mangione had when he was arrested, was additionally on the middle of pretrial hearings in his New York state homicide case.
At situation is whether or not the police search of Mangione’s backpack was authorized as officers went on to search out a pistol, silencer and pocket book inside.
Mangione’s legal professionals argue the proof discovered contained in the bag needs to be excluded as a result of police didn’t have a warrant.
The choose within the state case is at the moment deciding whether or not to permit the proof into that trial. A call is predicted by Might 18.
Mangione’s attorneys say case is tainted
Mangione’s protection attorneys say authorities prejudiced the case in opposition to him by turning his arrest for the 2024 capturing right into a “Marvel film spectacle.”
They’ve introduced a number of arguments as to why this shouldn’t be a federal loss of life penalty case.
William Farrington / AP 
Mangione’s legal professionals argue that authorities prejudiced the case by turning his perp stroll right into a extremely choreographed spectacle and declaring their need to see him executed earlier than formally indicting him.
Additionally they declare Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi’s earlier job with Ballard Companions, a lobbying agency whose purchasers embrace UnitedHealthcare’s guardian firm, is a battle of curiosity.
They allege Bondi violated an settlement when she took workplace to bow out of any issues associated to Ballard Companions for not less than one 12 months.
Prosecutors deny Bondi has battle of curiosity
Federal prosecutors slammed the protection’s claims as meritless and deceptive, arguing there is no such thing as a battle of curiosity with the lawyer basic as a result of there is no such thing as a current or future monetary acquire.
Additionally they argue that pretrial publicity, even when intense, is hardly a constitutional disaster.
