ActorAlec Baldwincould file acivil rights lawsuit against the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, after missteps by investigators led to the collapse of their criminal case against him. On July 12, a New Mexico judgethrew out the involuntary manslaughter caseagainst Baldwin, after prosecutors repeatedly failed to disclose evidence collected in connection to the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of his filmRust. According to a report byVariety, Alex Spiro, one of the attorneys for Baldwin, has sent letters to both Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza and special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, asking them to preserve evidence in connection to the case.
The letter makes the request based on “the potential for future litigation based on your actions in connection with Mr. Baldwin’s prosecution.” According to Albuquerque attorney Taylor Smith, who was interviewed byVariety, Baldwin should be motivated to sue in civil court:
This is open and shut in my mind. I would love to take this case.
Rust Shooting Victim’s Widower Speaks Out About Alec Baldwin Trial Dismissal, Seeks New Trial
Alec Baldwin’s manslaughter trial came to a dramatic end as the case was thrown out, but Halyna Hutchins' family want a full re-trial.
On June 16, 2025, Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer onRust, was shot and killed while filming a scene, after a gun Baldwin was holding fired, hitting her with a live round. Joel Souza, the film’s director, was also wounded, but survived. Prosecutors sayBaldwin’s reckless actions with firearmswhile filming contributed to Hutchins' death. Baldwin was also a producer on the film, and there were accusations that the film’s low budget led to unsafe conditions that contributed to the accidental shooting.
The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of the same charge of involuntary manslaughter in March.She is currently serving 18 months in a New Mexico state prison. Her attorneys have filed an emergency motionto have her conviction thrown out, stating that the conditions that led to the case against Baldwin being dismissed should apply to her case as well.
Why Was The Case Against Alec Baldwin Dismissed?
Thedismissal of the case against Baldwinwasn’t over a mere oversight of disclosing evidence.Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer cited that multiple issues with prosecutor misconduct factored into her decision.The final straw came when prosecutors failed to let Baldwin’s attorneys know that an investigator for the Sheriff’s office was in possession of bullets connected to the case. Those bullets were a mix of live and blank rounds, even though only blank rounds were supposed to be used on the set. This revelation would have strengthened Baldwin’s claim that his actions did not cause the shooting.
The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning New Mexico authorities cannot refile charges against Baldwin, a move that adds credibility to any civil case the actor could file.Baldwin could sue for damages under the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, or the state Tort Claims Act, or the federal Civil Rights Act of 1871.
Production onRustwas suspended after the shooting, but filming resumed last year and was completed. The film’s producers are currently searching for a distributor. A release date forRusthas not been announced.
