Judge orders anonymous jury for Luigi Mangione murder trial

A New York judge on Tuesday ordered that the jury for the state murder trial of 28-year-old Luigi Mangione will sit anonymously, a measure increasingly used in high-profile cases. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the December 2024 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside the New York Hilton Midtown.

Justice Gregory Carro directed the prosecution and defense to cooperate on a joint jury questionnaire, a step that will precede the voir dire process. Jury selection is scheduled to start on Sept. 8, and the trial is projected to run for roughly six weeks. If convicted, Mangione faces a possible life sentence.

The court also approved expanded media and public access, arranging an overflow room after the defense raised concerns about limited space.

"It has always been under consideration. They had to find the physical place, and it had to be staffed," Carro said.

Prosecutors expressed worries about potential recordings from the overflow area and cited prior attempts by Mangione supporters to intimidate witnesses.

"We are particularly concerned about the possibility that a spectator in an overflow room will clandestinely record the proceedings and share any such recordings with others," prosecutor Joel Seidemann wrote in an August 10 letter.

The judge rejected the defense’s claim that the Manhattan district attorney was interfering with courtroom access, calling it a "reckless mischaracterization."

Mangione’s attorney Marc Agnifilo praised the provision of extra space, noting it would improve coverage of the trial.

"I think it actually changed the complexion of the coverage of the trial. ... I think there should be two overflow rooms, but I’ll take one," Agnifilo said.

The case has attracted international attention, with supporters arguing the killing was justified. Prosecutors allege Mangione targeted Thompson out of animus toward the health-insurance industry, despite having no personal connection to the victim.

Former Manhattan prosecutor Rebecca Roiphe said prosecutors will likely screen jurors for strong opinions about the healthcare system, while the defense may seek jurors sympathetic to a "healthcare-for-all" perspective.

Mangione also faces separate federal stalking charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. A federal death-penalty request was withdrawn after a January ruling limited the Justice Department’s ability to seek capital punishment in the case.