Prosecutors and defense attorneys spent Tuesday quizzing potential jurors as Baldwin listened attentively to the answers given by potential jurors as the “Rust” shooting case gets underway.
Alec Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin Wednesday after prosecutors and defense attorneys spent hours quizzing dozens of potential jurors before picking the panel that will ultimately decide the actor’s fate.
Tuesday evening, 12 jurors and four alternates were seated after a day of questioning at the Santa Fe County District Courthouse. Eleven women and five men make up the jury.
Baldwin, who was indicted by a grand jury in January, has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge stemming from the Oct. 21, 2021, accidental shooting during the filming of the western movie “Rust.” The film’s 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died that day from the gunshot wound.
On Tuesday, the 66-year-old actor-producer sat attentively at the defense table, frequently making notes on a paper pad. He was flanked by members of his legal team who, along with prosecutors, faced a large pool of potential jurors.
Baldwin’s wife, Hilaria, and his brother Stephen Baldwin sat in a back row of the courtroom.
The eight-day trial will be broadcast live by Court TV.
The stakes are high. If found guilty, Baldwin could spend up to 18 months in prison. The outcome could also weigh heavily on his career.
