Dallas — A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed much of Alec Baldwin’s civil rights lawsuit against prosecutors involved in the “Rust” case, ruling that they are protected from liability by prosecutorial immunity.
Baldwin filed the lawsuit last year, arguing that he had been subjected to an excessive prosecution that improperly sought to convict him over the accidental 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
In her Wednesday ruling, Judge Kea Riggs said the allegations of misconduct presented a “very disturbing picture,” but concluded that Kari Morrissey and the other prosecutors named in the suit were shielded from civil liability for actions taken in their prosecutorial roles.
“Sometimes, it is better to leave unredressed the wrongs done by an allegedly dishonest prosecutor than to subject those who try to do their duty to the constant dread of retaliation,” Riggs wrote. “This is one of those times. The doctrine of absolute prosecutorial immunity is worthwhile only if it applies to hard cases, occasionally shielding acts of gross misconduct.”
Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial ended in July 2024 after the judge dismissed the charge upon learning that Morrissey had withheld evidence from the defence. Baldwin alleged that the incident was part of a broader pattern of prosecutorial misconduct that included giving false information to the grand jury, failing to disclose two firearms reports and pursuing an unlawful gun enhancement.
Baldwin has also brought civil rights claims against Santa Fe County and several sheriff’s investigators under New Mexico and federal law. The county has separately asked the court to dismiss those claims, and the judge has not yet ruled on those motions.
The prosecutors named as defendants include Morrissey, the appointed special prosecutor who led the case; Mary Carmack-Altwies, the elected district attorney in Santa Fe; and Andrea Reeb, who was initially appointed as special prosecutor before withdrawing from the case.
A state judge initially dismissed Baldwin’s lawsuit last year following a lengthy period of inactivity. Baldwin later refiled the case, which was subsequently moved to federal court. The state then filed several motions seeking dismissal based on immunity.
Prosecutors are generally protected from civil liability, although they may be held liable for misconduct when acting in an investigative capacity. The state did not seek dismissal of allegations involving Morrissey’s statements to the media or her agreement to log a cache of bullets under a separate case number, which effectively kept them from the defence.
“Accordingly, any claims based on these allegations survive this stage of litigation,” Riggs wrote.
Baldwin’s lawyers have previously said Morrissey would remain a defendant even if the motions to dismiss were granted in full.
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