SANTA FE, N.M. – Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit against prosecutors in the Rust shooting case has been reinstated. The actor sued special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe County District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, and others, alleging that evidence tied to the fatal on-set shooting was intentionally mishandled. Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter charge was later dropped.
The lawsuit was dismissed earlier this year after Baldwin’s legal team failed to take action for six months. A judge has now granted a motion to revive the case, allowing Baldwin to continue pursuing legal claims against those involved in the investigation.
Timeline of Key Events in the ‘Rust’ Case
- October 21, 2021: Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is fatally shot and director Joel Souza is injured when a prop gun held by Baldwin discharges on the Rust set near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- November 17, 2021: Script supervisor Mamie Mitchell files a lawsuit against Baldwin and producers, citing unsafe working conditions.
- December 2, 2021: Baldwin gives his first interview, stating he didn’t pull the trigger and didn’t know the gun contained a live round.
- January 2023: Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are charged with involuntary manslaughter.
- March 2024: Gutierrez-Reed is convicted of involuntary manslaughter; Baldwin’s charges are dropped during trial in July.
- January 2025: Baldwin files a lawsuit against prosecutors, alleging intentional mishandling of evidence.
- July 30, 2025: The lawsuit is dismissed due to inactivity from Baldwin’s legal team.
- October 2025: A judge reinstates Baldwin’s lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed.
