Alec Baldwin civil rights lawsuit dismissed over immunity

A U.S. District Judge has dismissed Alec Baldwin’s civil rights lawsuit against prosecutors involved in the ‘Rust’ film set shooting case. Judge Kea Riggs ruled that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey and other officials are entitled to absolute prosecutorial immunity, despite acknowledging that the allegations presented a “very disturbing picture of malicious prosecution.”

Baldwin had alleged that prosecutors intentionally concealed evidence, presented false information to a grand jury, and manipulated testimony to scapegoat him for the 2021 accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The legal dispute follows the abrupt dismissal of Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial in July 2024, after it was revealed that the prosecution had withheld key evidence regarding ammunition.

In her ruling, Judge Riggs stated that while the misconduct was troubling, the doctrine of immunity must be upheld to prevent those performing their duties from facing constant fear of retaliation. While the claims against the prosecutors were dismissed, Baldwin’s lawsuits against Santa Fe County and certain sheriff’s investigators remain pending, as the judge has yet to rule on those specific motions.