The legal drama surrounding the "Rust" case just took a major turn, and it’s a total L for Alec Baldwin. On Wednesday, a federal judge dismissed the majority of the actor’s civil rights lawsuit against the prosecutors who handled his involuntary manslaughter case.
The Ruling
Judge Kea Riggs ruled that Kari Morrissey and other prosecutors involved in the trial are protected by "prosecutorial immunity." Even though Judge Riggs admitted the allegations against the team paint a "very disturbing picture," she decided that the legal doctrine meant to protect prosecutors from constant retaliation had to win out here. In a pretty blunt moment, she wrote that it’s sometimes necessary to leave certain wrongs unredressed to ensure prosecutors can do their jobs without constant fear.
The Backstory
If you remember, Baldwin’s trial was messy, to say the least. It was cut short back in July 2024 after it came to light that Morrissey had withheld evidence from the defense. Baldwin’s initial lawsuit claimed this was just the tip of the iceberg, citing a pattern of abuse that included presenting false info to a grand jury, hiding two firearms reports, and filing a bogus gun enhancement.
What's Next?
It’s not a complete total loss for Baldwin, though. The judge allowed a few claims to stay alive—specifically those related to Morrissey’s comments to the media and allegations regarding the handling of a cache of bullets that were kept hidden from the defense. Plus, the actor still has a pending lawsuit against Santa Fe County and various sheriff’s investigators, so the plot thickens.
Why it matters
This ruling is a reminder of how high the bar is to sue public officials. Even when "gross misconduct" is on the table, the legal system has built-in shields that make holding prosecutors accountable extremely difficult, leaving Baldwin's battle for "justice" in a really precarious spot.
