A federal judge in New York has pushed back Luigi Mangione‘s federal trial by about a month, rejecting a defense request to delay it until next year in connection with the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett ruled on Wednesday (April 1) that jury selection in the federal case will begin October 5, four weeks later than originally scheduled. Opening statements are now set for either October 26 or November 2.
Mangione, 27, faces charges in both federal and New York state court in connection with Thompson’s shooting death on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk in December 2024. Thompson, 50, had been heading to an annual investors conference at a nearby hotel when he was shot. Mangione was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, ending a multi-state manhunt.
He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of stalking in the federal case, and to second-degree murder and eight other counts in the state case. If convicted on the most serious charges in either case, he could face life in prison.
Mangione’s defense attorneys had asked Garnett to delay the federal trial to January 2027, arguing they could not adequately prepare for both trials at the same time. In a March letter to the judge, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo wrote, “Realistically, defense counsel cannot be defending Mr. Mangione in state court on second-degree murder charges that carry a maximum sentence of twenty-five years to life while, at the same time, also reviewing 800 questionnaires for a federal case that carries a maximum life sentence.”
Garnett pushed back on that argument. “I am skeptical of moving the trial wholesale into 2027 when the state trial has not been adjourned, and I think it’s a little bit of the tail wagging the dog,” the judge said. “I don’t have any control over the state’s schedule.”
Prosecutor Dominic Gentile had argued against any delay, saying the public has a right to a speedy trial. “Your Honor need only look out the window to see the people that follow this defendant and believe that what he did was right,” he said. “This case is ready to move forward.”
The judge did acknowledge that the timing of both trials creates real complications. She expressed concern about having potential federal jurors fill out questionnaires while “there’s a massive press pool and a lot of attention on the state trial which is ongoing just two blocks from here.” She also said that “what is happening at 100 Centre [the state courthouse] inevitably affects how we structure things here so the defendant can get a fair trial.”
Mangione’s state trial is still scheduled to begin with jury selection on Monday (June 8). Garnett previously removed the death penalty from the federal charges. Prosecutors indicated in February they do not plan to appeal that ruling. State Judge Gregory Carro has said he will rule on defense motions to exclude evidence by May 18.
Mangione is due back in federal court on June 5.
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