Luigi Mangione Returns to Court After Secretive Earlier Hearing: What We Know So Far

Luigi Mangione is due back in a New York courtroom Tuesday morning after the judge overseeing his state murder case held a closed-door hearing earlier this month without publicly explaining why it was sealed.

Judge Gregory Carro had placed the matter on the calendar earlier in June, but the purpose of both the June 3 conference and Tuesday’s appearance has not been disclosed.

Mangione is scheduled to stand trial on Sept. 8. In a significant ruling last month, Carro largely rejected defense efforts to prevent prosecutors from introducing evidence obtained when police arrested Mangione in 2024. The judge found that much of the contested material — including the alleged murder weapon and writings prosecutors describe as a confession — was lawfully seized during his arrest at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

At a May 18 hearing, when Carro announced what evidence would be admissible at trial, he also set a follow-up proceeding for June. That hearing was later closed to the press at the request of defense attorneys. Carro also denied a request from a coalition of news organizations seeking either access to the proceeding or an explanation for why it had been sealed. Lawyers for both the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and Mangione declined to comment on the private hearing.

In New York, court proceedings are typically open to the public. Judges, however, can restrict access in limited circumstances, including when sensitive information is at issue or when closure is deemed necessary to protect victims in especially serious cases.

Mangione is now less than three months away from trial in connection with the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He has pleaded not guilty. A public fundraising effort for his legal defense has brought in more than $1.5 million.

Mangione also faces separate charges in federal court, and that case is scheduled to go to trial next year.

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.