The judge in Luigi Mangione’s upcoming murder trial just dropped a bombshell: the jury will stay anonymous. Why? Because prosecutors say the accused killer’s most devoted fans might try to intimidate or harass anyone who sits in judgment.
During a tense hearing Tuesday in Manhattan Supreme Court, Justice Gregory Carro laid out the ground rules for the high-profile case, which is set to kick off next month. Mangione, 28, sat quietly in a grey blazer and unbuttoned white dress shirt as the judge revealed plans for an overflow room to handle the crush of media—more than 80 news outlets are expected to cover the trial.
Prosecutors had raised red flags about the potential for witness intimidation, with Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann filing a letter late Monday warning that some of Mangione’s supporters could put “extraordinary pressure” on both witnesses and jurors. He even asked that the overflow room only stream audio, not video, to limit harassment risks.
But Carro wasn’t having it. He fired back at Seidemann, reminding the seasoned prosecutor that this isn’t his first rodeo with a high-profile case. The judge approved both audio and video feeds for the overflow room, making sure everyone can watch the action unfold.
Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which prosecutors describe as a targeted execution on a Midtown street. The case has sparked a bizarre fan following, with self-proclaimed “Mangionistas” showing up to court. Two of them—Abril Rios and Ashley Rojas—were spotted inside the courtroom Tuesday, wearing press credentials and drawing outrage for their past outbursts outside the courthouse.
The judge also scolded Mangione’s defense team for suggesting the district attorney’s office handpicked reporters to cover the trial. Carro made it clear that claim was false, noting the state’s Office of Court Administration handles media access, not prosecutors.
Anonymous juries are becoming a trend in Manhattan’s biggest trials, from Donald Trump’s hush-money case to Daniel Penny’s subway chokehold trial. Mangione’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, said he’s happy with the ruling, though he joked he’d prefer two overflow rooms instead of one. Jury selection is set to begin September 8.
With twisted fans, a packed courtroom, and a judge who’s clearly in control, what happens when the trial actually starts?
