The state and federal trials of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024, were both postponed on Wednesday. The state trial, originally set for 8 June, has been moved to September, while the federal trial is now tentatively scheduled for 5 October.
The postponements came after Mangione's legal team requested a delay, arguing that preparing for two complex trials simultaneously violated his constitutional rights. In an 18 March letter, his attorneys stated that Mangione faced an 'impossible position' of having to review 800 federal juror questionnaires during his state trial, which is expected to last four to six weeks.
Federal judge Margaret Garnett granted the delay, with in-person jury selection set to begin on 5 October and the trial proper starting on 26 October or 2 November. The state judge, Gregory Carro, had indicated he would reschedule the state trial to 8 September if the federal case was pushed back.
Prosecutors opposed the delay, arguing that targeted modifications to the questionnaire process could address the defense's concerns without a wholesale continuance. They noted that the original federal case had included capital charges, which were dismissed in January.
About two dozen supporters of Mangione attended the court hearing, some wearing green in reference to the Nintendo character Luigi. Mangione appeared in khaki jail scrubs and remained alert throughout the proceeding.
