Lawyers for Luigi Mangione, who is charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, have requested a public hearing to address concerns over media access to his upcoming trial in Manhattan Supreme Court. The request, filed Friday by Mangione’s attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, challenges the process by which reporters have been selected to cover the proceedings, alleging undue influence by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in determining which journalists are allowed courtroom seats.
Mangione, 28, faces second-degree murder charges related to the fatal shooting of Thompson outside the Midtown Hilton hotel on December 4, 2024. Prosecutors say the killing was motivated by resentment against the U.S. healthcare industry. Mangione has pleaded not guilty. He also faces federal stalking charges in a separate case scheduled for trial in January 2027.
In the letter to Justice Gregory Carro, Mangione’s legal team criticized a system that they describe as a "secret process," involving the court and the District Attorney’s office to "hand-select" reporters permitted inside the courtroom. They argued they were not given a chance to contest the absence of an overflow room or the media access arrangements. Mangione’s lawyers have called for a televised hearing to clarify how journalists covering the trial are chosen, disclosure of the names of reporters assigned to jury selection and the broader trial, and explanations of the procedures in place.
The Office of Court Administration (OCA) oversees media seating in high-profile cases and has confirmed that 68 seats would be allocated to designated news organizations for Mangione’s trial, with remaining spots for press available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike in former President Donald Trump’s trial earlier this year—which included an overflow room and rotating journalist shifts for jury selection—OCA stated there would be no overflow space for Mangione’s trial. For jury selection beginning September 8, six seats will be reserved for reporters, with selection managed by full-time court journalists.
The defense objects to these arrangements, particularly for jury selection, due to the limited seating amidst hundreds of prospective jurors expected to appear. The case has already attracted significant public and media attention, with some supporters of Mangione, calling themselves “The Mangionistas,” gaining New York City press credentials despite lacking traditional journalistic experience. This development prompted the mayor’s office to announce a review of its credentialing process following reports highlighting concerns over journalistic standards and objectivity.
Court officials have declined to comment on the media access dispute. Mangione remains held pretrial at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as the preparations for the trial progress. The trial, managed by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office under Alvin Bragg, continues to be closely monitored due to its high-profile nature and public interest.