Alec Baldwin Loses Most Claims Against ‘Rust’ Prosecutors, but Parts of Lawsuit Survive

A federal judge has dismissed most of Alec Baldwin’s civil rights claims against the prosecutors who pursued him over the fatal 2021 shooting on the set of “Rust,” ruling that they are protected by absolute prosecutorial immunity for conduct tied to their roles as advocates.

U.S. District Judge Kea W. Riggs issued the decision on September 30, 2026, finding that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and former special prosecutor Andrea Reeb cannot be held personally liable for much of the misconduct alleged in Baldwin’s lawsuit. Riggs nevertheless said the complaint, if true, paints a “very disturbing picture” of malicious prosecution.

The ruling does not end the case. Claims involving Morrissey’s statements to the media and her alleged agreement to have ammunition logged under a separate case number remain because the defendants did not seek their dismissal. Riggs wrote that any claims based on those allegations “survive this stage of litigation.”

That distinction turns on what function a prosecutor was performing. Riggs found that decisions involving evidence disclosure, grand jury proceedings, and trial preparation were closely tied to Morrissey’s role as an advocate and therefore protected by absolute immunity. The surviving allegations were outside the conduct covered by the dismissal request.

Baldwin filed the civil rights case after his involuntary manslaughter trial ended abruptly in July 2024 over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The trial judge dismissed the charge with prejudice after finding prosecutors failed to disclose ammunition that could have been relevant to the defense.

His complaint accuses prosecutors and law enforcement officials of malicious prosecution and other civil rights violations, including allegedly withholding firearms reports, presenting false information during grand jury proceedings, and pursuing a gun enhancement that was not in effect when the October 21, 2021 shooting occurred.

Riggs acknowledged the seriousness of those allegations while holding that immunity still barred most of the claims. She wrote that absolute prosecutorial immunity can shield even serious misconduct when the challenged acts are part of the prosecutor’s role in the judicial process.

The judge specifically found that Morrissey was protected from liability for allegedly withholding expert firearm reports, failing to disclose other evidence, conduct tied to grand jury proceedings, and actions taken in preparation for trial. She also ruled that Morrissey was immune from claims based on testimony she gave during Baldwin’s criminal trial.

Baldwin originally filed the lawsuit in New Mexico state court in January 2025. A state judge later dismissed it after a period of inactivity, but the case was refiled and later moved to federal court, where the state defendants sought dismissal on immunity grounds.

Morrissey remains a defendant because the surviving allegations were not resolved by Wednesday’s ruling. Baldwin also has claims pending against Santa Fe County and several sheriff’s investigators, who have filed separate motions seeking dismissal. Riggs has not yet ruled on those requests.