Judge upholds dismissal of Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge
A New Mexico judge has upheld the dismissal of Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charge following the fatal "Rust" on-set shooting.
District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer's decision, which widely surfaced Friday, argued that prosecutors failed to raise any factual or legal arguments that would lead her to reconsider her earlier ruling, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY Friday.
"Because the state's amended motion raises arguments previously made, and arguments that the state elected not to raise earlier, the court does not find the amended motion well taken," the judge wrote in her decision. The judge cited prosecutors' "untimeliness" in her ruling because they filed an amended motion outside the time limit for an appeal.
Prosecutors filed their amended motion on Sept. 5.
Alec Baldwin 'Rust' case dismissed by judge over 'suppressed' evidence
USA TODAY has reached out to Baldwin's rep for comment.
The involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin in the 2021 shooting death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, which occurred while filming the Western movie, was abruptly dismissed in July by the judge on the grounds that prosecutors and law enforcement withheld evidence that might be favorable to the actor's defense.
Sommer handed down a surprise ruling on the third day of the "30 Rock" actor's trial.
She dismissed the charge with prejudice, meaning prosecutors cannot refile the same claim. At the time, Baldwin, 66, sobbed into his hands as the judge read out her order, with wife Hilaria Baldwin, sister Elizabeth Keuchler and brother Stephen Baldwin leaning forward in their seats behind him.
In recent months, Baldwin has made a fully-fledged public comeback to the entertainment industry.
In June, TLC announced a reality show starring one of Hollywood's most controversial couples and their seven children together, which the network said will feature "non-stop love, laughter and drama" in a press release.
"The Baldwins," set to air in 2025, will follow the family as they "invite viewers into the home they share with their seven growing kids," the network said.
Baldwin's made a return to NBC, too. The "30 Rock" star stopped by "Saturday Night Live" last week to play Bret Baier in an "SNL" sketch parodying the Fox News host's recent interview with Vice President Kamala Harris (played by Maya Rudolph). Baier was portrayed as combative toward the Democratic presidential nominee, interrupting her throughout the conversation and cornering her with unfair questions.
Contributing: KiMi Robinson, Brendan Morrow
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting charge dismissal upheld by judge