Alec Baldwin’s Lawyers SlamRustProsecutor’s 'Egregious' Request to Have Judge Reconsider Her Decision to Dismiss the Case

Mar. 15, 2025

Alec Baldwin, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer and Kari T. Morrissey.Photo:Jean Catuffe/GC Images; Ramsay de Give-Pool/Getty; Ramsay de Give-Pool/Getty

Jean Catuffe/GC Images; Ramsay de Give-Pool/Getty; Ramsay de Give-Pool/Getty

“She repeatedly violated the State’s disclosure obligations, buried evidence, lied about it at trial, and then lied about her reasons for lying about it,” Baldwin’s legal team continued. “Not only has the State failed to present any new information to warrant reconsideration, but the new information that has emerged since trial only underscores the strength and necessity of the Court’s judgment.”

His attorneys argued that the court should strike the state’s defective motion and the state’s motion for reconsideration should be denied, claiming the state’s misconduct was “egregious” and the case law supports the dismissal.

But in a dramatic twist on the third day of the proceedings, Sommer dismissed the case with prejudice after hearing arguments that the prosecutors, including Morrissey, withheld evidence from the defense team.

Alec Baldwin in court on July 10.Ross D. Franklin - Pool/Getty

Ross D. Franklin - Pool/Getty

Baldwin attorney Luke Nikas claimed a man named Troy Teske — a friend of Thell Reed, the father of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who wasfound guilty of involuntary manslaughterin March for accidentally loading a live round into the gun — had turned over ammunition to authorities he thought was connected to the case.

That afternoon, Morrissey called herself to testify under oath and explained to the court why she didn’t think the ammunition handed over was consideredRustevidence. But Sommer ultimately agreed with the defense.

Kari T. Morrissey in court on July 11.RAMSAY DE GIVE/POOL/AFP via Getty

RAMSAY DE GIVE/POOL/AFP via Getty

“The late discovery of this evidence during trial has impeded the effective use of evidence in such a way that it has impacted the fundamental fairness of the proceedings,” Sommer said in court July 12 as she announced her decision.

Baldwin, who faced 18 months in prison if convicted, cried in court upon hearing the news.

Alec Baldwin on the set of ‘Rust’.Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office/ZUMA Press Wire Service/Shutterstock

Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office/ZUMA Press Wire Service/Shutterstock

In her Aug. 30 motion, Morrissey objected to Sommer’s ruling and asked the judge to reconsider. “The State asserts that there were insufficient facts to support the Court’s ruling and there was no violation of the Defendant’s due process rights,” she wrote.

Sommerdenied Morrissey’s motionon Sept. 5 because it exceeded the court-ordered page limit. Morrissey filed an amended motion later that day.

source: people.com