Jury selection begins in Alec Baldwin involuntary manslaughter trial for 'Rust' shooting

Jury selection for Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial began Tuesday, over the shooting that killed "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

Baldwin has pleaded not guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge, after he allegedly fired a gun on the set of the movie "Rust" in New Mexico that killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. Baldwin has maintained that he never pulled the trigger.

Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said she expects all 12 primary jurors to be seated by the end of the first day. The jury panel are then expected to listen to an approximately nine day trial, before they receive the case, according to the Associated Press.

“I’m not worried about being able to pick a jury in one day,” Sommer said. “I think we’re going to pick a jury by the afternoon.”

If all jurors are successfully chosen, opening statements will be given on Wednesday.

Baldwin was in the court room for jury selection, along with his wife Hilaria Baldwin, his brother fellow actor Stephen Baldwin, and his youngest daughter Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin. Hilaria and Alec Baldwin have a total of seven children.

The actor has previously admitted to pointing a loaded gun on set but has denied pulling the trigger. However, prosecutors claim they have a witness that was near Baldwin at the time of the incident who will testify that they saw the actor squeeze the trigger. Prosecutors have also claimed that the gun could not have fired without his pulling the trigger. 

If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison for the charge, which is the same sentence "Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is already serving after being convicted on the same charge. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.