Judge in Luigi Mangione case holds secret hearing despite press objections

Luigi Mangione ’s New York state case in the killing of the healthcare executive Brian Thompson descended into secrecy on Wednesday when Judge Gregory Carro held sealed proceedings despite press objections. Mangione’s state trial for allegedly shooting dead Thompson on a Manhattan Street in late 2024 is scheduled for 8 September. Mangione also faces a federal trial in relation to Thompson’s killing. The murder triggered an intense manhunt but also prompted an outpouring of public rage against the practices of the for-profit US healthcare industry. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both cases. Mangione’s team and prosecutors were scheduled to appear for a 3 June virtual conference. Carro scheduled Wednesday’s conference publicly at Mangione’s last court proceeding. While parties do not appear for virtual conferences, these proceedings are routinely accessible to press and public in courtrooms via video display. There is a presumption of public and press access to court proceedings – be they in-person or virtual – in New York and US courts. However, as media outlets earlier this week asked logistics questions about access to the virtual proceeding, New York state courts administrators announced that this proceeding would be sealed. This notification came at 1.18pm on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before the proceeding’s scheduled start time, giving the media and their legal representatives little time to fight the sealing. …