Judge dismisses most of Baldwin's civil rights claims against Rust prosecutors
U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs ruled that prosecutors in the Rust case are shielded by absolute prosecutorial immunity, while calling the alleged misconduct a "very disturbing picture". Some claims against special prosecutor Kari Morrissey survive.
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The story, neutrally told
On Wednesday 30 September 2026, U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs threw out much of Alec Baldwin's civil rights lawsuit against prosecutors in the Rust case, finding they are entitled to prosecutorial immunity. VarietyLC “A federal judge on Wednesday threw out much of Alec Baldwin‘s civil rights lawsuit against prosecutors in the “Rust” case, finding they are entitled to prosecutorial immunity.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “U.S. District Judge Kea Riggs found on Wednesday that the prosecutor in the case is entitled to immunity” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Riggs said the allegations paint a "very disturbing picture" but wrote that it is sometimes better to leave a dishonest prosecutor's wrongs unredressed than to expose prosecutors to constant fear of retaliation. VarietyLC ““Sometimes, it is better to leave unredressed the wrongs done by an allegedly dishonest prosecutor than to subject those who try to do their duty to the constant dread of retaliation,” Riggs wrote.” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “acknowledging a “very disturbing picture of malicious prosecution.”” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ She added that absolute immunity is worthwhile only if it applies to hard cases, occasionally shielding acts of gross misconduct. The Hollywood ReporterLC ““The doctrine of absolute prosecutorial immunity is worthwhile only if it applies to hard cases, occasionally shielding acts of gross misconduct,” the judge wrote.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Baldwin sued over the prosecution that followed the 2021 accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. His involuntary manslaughter trial ended in July 2024 when the charge was dismissed after the judge learned special prosecutor Kari Morrissey had withheld evidence from the defense. VarietyLC “Baldwin’s trial for involuntary manslaughter was cut short in July 2024, when the judge dismissed the charge after learning that Morrissey had withheld evidence from the defense.” Read at Variety ↗ He also alleged false information was given to the grand jury, two firearms reports were not disclosed, and an unlawful gun enhancement was filed. The defendants were Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and Andrea Reeb, who withdrew as special prosecutor. VarietyLC “including presenting false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports, and filing an unlawful gun enhancement.”“Andrea Reeb, who was originally appointed as the special prosecutor but later withdrew from the case.” Read at Variety ↗ Some claims survive: the state did not seek to dismiss allegations about Morrissey's statements to the media or her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, which Variety says functionally hid them from the defense. VarietyLC ““Accordingly, any claims based on these allegations survive this stage of litigation,” the judge wrote.” Read at Variety ↗
Baldwin's separate claims against Santa Fe County and sheriff's investigators remain pending, as the judge has yet to rule on the county's motions to dismiss. VarietyLC “The county has filed separate motions to dismiss those claims. The judge has yet to rule on those motions.” Read at Variety ↗ A representative for Baldwin did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood ReporterLC “A representative for Baldwin didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both trade outlets report the ruling as a legal setback for Baldwin, leading on immunity while quoting the judge's acknowledgement of possible misconduct.
- Emphasis
- Variety stresses procedural detail, including surviving claims and the pending county motions. The Hollywood Reporter stresses the evidence-withholding history and the judge's findings about Morrissey.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Hollywood Reporter does not mention the surviving claims or the pending motions against Santa Fe County. Variety does not mention the upcoming documentary or seeking comment from Baldwin's representative.
- Charged language
- “very disturbing picture”“gross misconduct”“out-of-control prosecution”
- For example
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“Baldwin sued last year, alleging he was the victim of an out-of-control prosecution” — Variety
“The court said that Santa Fe officials are shielded by prosecutorial immunity, though it nodded to potentially "gross misconduct" across the criminal case.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Judge Kea Riggs ruled on Wednesday that prosecutors are shielded by prosecutorial immunity.
- Riggs acknowledged a 'very disturbing picture' and wrote that absolute immunity occasionally shields gross misconduct.
- Baldwin's 2024 trial collapsed after evidence was withheld from the defense.
Where accounts differ
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Scope of the dismissal
- Left
- Variety says much of the suit was dismissed but some claims against Morrissey survive; The Hollywood Reporter describes the lawsuit as dismissed.
Alec Baldwin person
Baldwin alleged he was the victim of an abusive prosecution; his representative had not responded to comment on the ruling.
“alleging he was the victim of an out-of-control prosecution that wrongly sought to convict him” — Variety
“A representative for Baldwin didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Left2 articles
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Alec Baldwin’s Claims Against ‘Rust’ Prosecutor Dismissed on Immunity Grounds
Neutral Procedural account of the dismissal, noting which claims survive and what remains pending against the county.
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Alec Baldwin Civil Rights Lawsuit Over ‘Rust’ Prosecution Dismissed
Neutral Frames the ruling against the backdrop of the trial's collapse and the judge's findings on withheld evidence, and mentions the upcoming Baldwin documentary.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 20:39 First VarietyLC Alec Baldwin’s Claims Against ‘Rust’ Prosecutor Dismissed on Immunity Grounds
- 1 Oct 00:13 +3h 34m The Hollywood ReporterLC Alec Baldwin Civil Rights Lawsuit Over ‘Rust’ Prosecution Dismissed
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.