Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer took a firm stance on courtroom cleanliness as Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial commenced at Santa Fe’s 1st Judicial District Court of New Mexico. On Thursday, July 11, she rebuked members of the media for leaving behind cups and water bottles, warning that further negligence would result in a ban on all liquids within the courthouse.
“One more cup and everybody is not allowed to bring any liquids of any kind whatsoever,” Judge Sommer admonished. “My staff and our county people are not going to be picking up trash that you all could pick up. Okay? And that also means downstairs in the jury assembly room.”
The judge emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum and responsibility in the courthouse. “So one more cup, one more water — let’s just have some manners on picking up after ourselves, okay? Sorry I had to bring that up right now,” she concluded sternly.
Following this directive, Alec Baldwin’s defense attorney, Alex Spiro, resumed questioning Marissa Poppell, a crime scene technician from the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office. Poppell was detailing evidence collected from the set of the film “Rust” in 2021, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins tragically lost her life in an accidental shooting.
During a rehearsal scene for the low-budget Western, Baldwin, 66, was handling a prop gun that discharged unexpectedly, fatally injuring Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Baldwin, maintaining his innocence, has denied pulling the trigger or knowing that the weapon contained live ammunition. He faces a charge of involuntary manslaughter, carrying a possible sentence of up to 18 months in prison.
In opening arguments on July 10, prosecutor Erlinda Johnson portrayed Baldwin as negligent in adhering to proper gun safety protocols, labeling his actions as reckless. In contrast, Spiro characterized the incident as an “unspeakable tragedy,” asserting Baldwin’s innocence by highlighting his role solely as an actor on set.
Throughout the proceedings, Baldwin has been supported by family members including his brother Stephen Baldwin, sister Beth Keuchler, and wife Hilaria Baldwin, who have consistently appeared in court behind the defense team.
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During a break in the trial on Thursday, Hilaria Baldwin, dressed in a somber suit, left her seat beside Stephen to confer quietly with her husband. The couple exchanged whispers away from the courtroom’s scrutiny, with Hilaria gently touching Alec’s shoulder before returning to her seat as he smiled in acknowledgment.
Judge Sommer, who previously presided over the trial of Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in March for her role in Hutchins’ death, has ensured a focused and disciplined courtroom atmosphere. Gutierrez-Reed received the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison in April.
The trial is expected to continue through July 19, with ongoing scrutiny and public interest surrounding Baldwin’s legal proceedings and the tragic incident on the Rust film set.
