A judge in the New York state case against Luigi Mangione, accused of killing healthcare executive Brian Thompson, held a secret hearing on Wednesday, sealing the proceedings despite objections from the press. The hearing took place at Manhattan Supreme Court, with Judge Gregory Carro presiding.
Background of the Case
Mangione’s state trial for allegedly shooting Thompson on a Manhattan street in late 2024 is scheduled to begin on 8 September. He also faces a federal trial related to the killing. The murder sparked an intense manhunt but also ignited public anger over practices in the for-profit US healthcare industry. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Sealed Proceeding
At Mangione’s last court appearance, Carro scheduled Wednesday’s conference publicly. However, as media outlets inquired about access to the virtual proceeding, New York state courts administrators announced on Tuesday at 1:18 PM that the hearing would be sealed, giving the media little time to challenge the decision. Attorneys for several media organizations and at least one reporter filed letters requesting an opportunity to address the sealing before the hearing.
Despite these objections, Carro did not allow the press to be heard. The virtual conference began at approximately 9:30 AM, and Carro took the bench around 10:30 AM. He stated, “Just so the record is clear, we did have a virtual proceeding in the people versus Luigi Mangione case. Defendant was present. His attorneys were present. The people were present. At the request of the defense, that proceeding is sealed at the moment and we have adjourned the case to June 16 and it’s a physical appearance and you’re all invited to be here.” Carro did not explain why the proceeding was sealed, nor did he allow the press to address the court after his comments. When several press members stood to speak, Carro had already moved on to the next case.
Legal Context
While the press and public generally have a right to attend court proceedings, there are limited exceptions. Judges are barred from restricting access unless a specific legal reason exists. Multiple court rulings affirm that the press and public have the right to object to sealing. The media organizations’ requests for a hearing on the sealing were standard practice, but Carro did not grant them.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 16, which will be an in-person appearance open to the press and public.
