Mangione Lawyers Say Murder Trial Media Limits Violate Rights

Attorneys for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, argued in a new court filing that media restrictions planned for his upcoming state murder trial violate his constitutional right to a public proceeding.

In a filing submitted Friday, defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo objected to rules limiting courtroom access to 68 journalists, warning that the arrangement could allow the court or the district attorney’s office to “hand-pick” which reporters are allowed inside.

Mangione’s legal team outlined three objections in the filing, saying the combined effect raises constitutional concerns:

Agnifilo said the defense was not consulted about media access for the September trial and only learned of a document titled “Media Access: PSNY v. Mangione” after an independent journalist posted about it on X.

“These guidelines were created without any consultation with or input from the defense. The guidelines provide that no overflow room will be made available for the duration of the trial, and that only six journalists will be permitted to cover jury selection, in a dramatic break from customary practice,” she wrote.

Agnifilo called the process “unabashedly arbitrary and insufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Constitution.”

Mangione’s attorney is requesting a public hearing on the matter and wants the court to turn over a list of six journalists apparently picked to cover jury selection, the list of 68 journalists granted permission to cover the trial proceedings, as well as an explanation of the criteria and who made the selection.

Mangione’s attorneys are also seeking details on what efforts were made to secure an overflow courtroom and are requesting that the proceedings be broadcast live, as there isn’t currently an overflow room.

Mangione’s federal trial won’t begin until January.

News Outlet reached out to Agnifilo’s office for comment.