NEW YORK — A Manhattan judge has ruled that the jury in Luigi Mangione’s state murder trial will remain anonymous, citing concerns surrounding the intense public attention to the case and potential pressure on jurors.
New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro announced the decision on Tuesday at a final pretrial hearing ahead of jury selection, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 8. The identities of jurors will be withheld from the public, while prosecutors and defense lawyers will retain access to information needed for the trial.
Mangione, 28, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the December 2024 killing of Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, outside a Manhattan hotel. Prosecutors accuse Mangione of fatally shooting Thompson as he arrived for an investor conference. Mangione denies the charges.
The decision followed concerns raised by prosecutors about the possibility of intimidation or harassment involving people who have expressed support for Mangione. Prosecutor Joel Seidemann had previously told the court that authorities were concerned about the presence of people who might make threats during proceedings.
The case has attracted unusually extensive public attention, with Mangione supporters regularly appearing at court proceedings. Carro's ruling places the case among a small number of recent high-profile Manhattan trials in which jurors have been shielded from public identification.
The judge also addressed a dispute over access for the news media and public. Mangione's lawyers had raised concerns about courtroom capacity and media access. Carro rejected suggestions that his court had sought to restrict public or press access and said an overflow courtroom would be available to accommodate additional observers.
The defense has also challenged evidence prosecutors intend to present. In May, Carro ruled that a gun and notebook recovered after Mangione's arrest could be admitted at the state trial, while suppressing other items obtained during an earlier search of his backpack at a Pennsylvania McDonald's.
Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania days after Thompson was killed. He faces a separate federal case related to the killing, with that proceeding scheduled for a later date.
Carro adjourned Tuesday's state proceedings until Sept. 8, when jury selection is scheduled to begin.
