Luigi Mangione’s defense team is challenging media access restrictions for his upcoming New York state murder trial, arguing they violate his constitutional right to a public proceeding and demanding that the court broadcast the trial live.
In a July 31 letter to Manhattan Justice Gregory Carro, Mangione’s attorneys objected to the state’s media access plan for the case, which won’t provide an overflow courtroom for the duration of the trial and will only allow six journalists to cover the jury selection. A total of 68 journalists will receive general access to the trial proceedings.
Mangione, 28, is charged with second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon and forgery in connection with the December 2024 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In September 2025, Judge Carro dismissed two terrorism-related counts, including a first-degree murder charge, finding them legally insufficient.
The defense said the state’s media access guidelines were developed without its input, and that it only learned of the details after an independent journalist posted the plan on X.
“Criminal defendants have a Sixth Amendment right to a fully public, open and unbiased trial,” the defense wrote. “This means that every member of the public and the press who wishes to see the Mangione trial should be permitted to do so.”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office pushed back on the defense in an Aug. 3 letter, writing that prosecutors had “no role” in developing the media access plan and would have no role in selecting journalists.
Judge Carro has not yet ruled on the requests, and Mr. Mangione is due back in state court for a hearing Aug. 11. The state trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 8. A separate federal trial is set for Jan. 5, 2027.
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