Alec Baldwin was in the courtroom on Tuesday as Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer began the jury selection process.
The two-hour delay was due to technical issues and heat in the courtroom, and the hearing continued after the courtroom was moved to another room.
Judge Sommer told the potential jurors that if selected, “you will decide whether Mr. Baldwin is guilty or not guilty.”
Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted of manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins.
Fox News Digital's Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.
Stephen Baldwin supports brother Alec in 'Lust' shooting trial
Actor Stephen Baldwin was spotted entering the courtroom ahead of his brother Alec Baldwin's manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Tuesday.
Stephen, 58, arrived shortly after Alec and his wife Hilaria arrived at the courthouse in two black SUVs for jury selection.
The Baldwin family appears to be supporting the 66-year-old, who could face up to 18 months in prison if convicted. Stephen is one of five Baldwin siblings.
While Steven's acting career has been quiet recently, the '90s saw a string of hit films, including The Usual Suspects, Posse and Gone in 8 Seconds.
Baldwin's daughter, Hailey Bieber, is currently pregnant and is expecting her first child with husband Justin Bieber.
Alec Baldwin ran into 'old problems' leading up to 'Rust' trial, says Judge Jeanine Pirro
As jury selection began Tuesday in New Mexico, Judge Jeanine Pirro offered her thoughts on Alec Baldwin's “Last” trial.
Pirro told America's Newsroom that Baldwin's case stemmed from “ancient issues.”
“First of all, we never speak to the press. We never give interviews when there are fatalities. I mean, you can call it an accident, but just because it's an accident doesn't mean it's not a murder,” she said.
“One thing to understand is that the gun manufacturer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was charged with manslaughter as a gun manufacturer. She was convicted. And the same experts that were used in the trial of Hannah Gutierrez Reed will be used in the trial of Alec Baldwin.”
Gutierrez Reed is currently serving an 18-month sentence.
Pirro noted the possibility of a “culture clash” in the courtroom between Baldwin's high-ranking New York lawyers and the rural Santa Fe prosecutors.
“This case is significant not only because of the horrific death of an individual on a movie set in itself, but also because it illustrates the overall issue of whether these prop guns, which are not supposed to contain live ammunition, should be allowed to be used on a movie set,” Piro said.
“There should not have been any live ammunition anywhere near that set, but we know that there were people who left the set because of the risk of live ammunition being fired at that location.”
Alec Baldwin 'The Last' trial: Expert reveals crucial gaffes that could cripple actor's defense
Alec Baldwin could be a “burden” to his defense, but the leak of key evidence could help him win his case, legal experts told Fox News Digital.
His lawyer, Todd Spodek, said the “30 Rock” star could become infuriated if he takes the stand, which could infuriate the defense.
“It would be very dangerous for him to testify,” Spodek told Fox News Digital. “He has constant outbursts. He has no control over his emotions. He's a very volatile individual.”
Defense attorney Mark Bederow agreed with Spodek, adding that prosecutors will aggressively pursue Baldwin, who has given conflicting accounts of the accident in interviews with the media and police.
“He's in New Mexico, far from Hollywood and far from New York,” Bederow said. “There's a real risk that a New Mexico jury will find him dishonest and intolerable.”
Read on to find out what legal experts think about Alec Baldwin's next move in the “Rust” trial.
Who is Halina Hutchins?
Halina Hutchins was a Ukrainian-born cinematographer who was killed in a prop gun accident while filming the movie “Lust.”
She was shot and killed in October 2021 after Alec Baldwin unknowingly used a prop gun that was loaded with live ammunition.
Halina was born in Ukraine and grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic, her biography says. She earned a master's degree in journalism from Kyiv National University and worked as an investigative journalist in Europe before moving to Los Angeles to further her career, but her family remained in Kyiv.
The cinematographer has worked on several films prior to “Lust,” including “Arch Enemy” (2020) and “The Mad Hatter” (2021).
Halina's death had a profound effect on the film industry. Following her death, the Motion Picture Association of America tweeted, “As true as it is in the art of cinematography, words alone cannot express the loss of someone so dear to the AFI community. AFI pledges that Halina Hutchins will live on in the hearts of all who strive to make their dreams come true with a story well told.”
She left a legacy as a wife and mother: Halina and her husband, Matthew, had one son, Andros, who was 9 years old when she died.
Fox News Digital's Breana Scheckwitz contributed to this report.
What happened on the set of Rust?
It's still not clear how live ammunition got onto the set of “Lust,” but prosecutors have alleged that the film's gunsmith, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, unknowingly brought ammunition onto the set, leading to the death of cinematographer Halina Hutchins. The gunsmith is also accused of putting cast and crew at risk by failing to follow industry safety procedures on the set of the Western.
Gutierrez-Reed was hired by the film's producers as a weapons maker along with the role of props assistant. She had just finished working on Nicolas Cage's “The Old Way.”
Hutchins died on set after Gutierrez-Reed's loaded gun fired. Actor Alec Baldwin was filming a close-up shot of the gun at the time of the shooting. Gutierrez-Reed's lawyers argued that she was working two jobs on set and was unable to concentrate on her duties as a gunman.
Gutierrez Reed was convicted of manslaughter in March. The “Last” weaponsmith faced up to 18 months in prison.
Hilaria Baldwin attends 'Lust' shooting trial with husband Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, accompanied the “Lust” actor to court on Tuesday as his manslaughter trial began.
The two arrived at the New Mexico courthouse in separate black SUVs, with Baldwin exiting the second car with his lawyer, Alex Spiro.
As the “30 Rock” star was walking to his first SUV to meet his wife, he shooed away a reporter with a legal pad who got too close to the car.
Hilaria, wearing a brown pantsuit and oversized glasses, got out of the first SUV, handed her baby to another woman and followed her husband into the First Judicial District Courthouse, where jury selection is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning.
Alec and Hilaria recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. The couple has seven children together.
Who is Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer?
The judge presiding over Alec Baldwin's manslaughter case is Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer of the First Judicial District of New Mexico.
She was appointed to the court by Gov. Bill Richardson in March 2010 and elected in November of that year. She then served as chief judge of the 1st Judicial District Court for five years from 2017 to 2022.
Prior to his appointment by Governor Richardson, Judge Marlowe Sommer served as a child support hearing judge since 2008, was a partner and shareholder in the Marlowe Law Firm, and served as an Assistant Attorney General in the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.
Marlowe Sommer earned his law degree in 1983 from the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University.
Judge Marlowe Sommer also ruled against “Last” arms maker Hannah Gutierrez Reid, sentencing her to 18 months in prison.
Fox News Digital's Lori A. Bassian contributed to this report.
Alec Baldwin attends jury selection for 'Lust' trial
Alec Baldwin appeared in court on Tuesday to begin the jury selection process on the first day of his manslaughter trial.
Baldwin is charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Halina Hutchins.
The cinematographer was killed on October 21, 2021, when a gun held by Baldwin discharged on the set of “Lust.”
The trial is scheduled to continue until July 19. If convicted, Baldwin faces up to 18 months in prison.
What criminal charges does Alec Baldwin face?
Alec Baldwin was charged on January 19, 2024 with two counts of negligent homicide, negligent use of a firearm or, alternatively, negligent homicide without due care or caution.
The actor was initially charged in January 2023, but the manslaughter charge was dropped in April 2023.
“We look forward to our day in court,” Baldwin's attorneys, Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas, said in a statement to Fox News Digital at the time.
The manslaughter allegations stem from the on-set death of Halina Hutchins, the cinematographer for “Lust,” who died after a gun held by Baldwin went off. Hutchins and Baldwin had been practicing a close-up shot for “It's Complicated” in which actors had to cross and draw their pistols when a gun went off inside a small church at Bonanza Creek Ranch.
The gun used in the shooting was later destroyed during ballistics testing by the FBI.
Baldwin tried to use evidence suppression to have the case dismissed, but the judge denied the request.
Who is Alec Baldwin?
Alec Baldwin, an American actor, writer, comedian, and film producer, is on trial for manslaughter in the death of Halina Hutchins in October 2021 while filming the movie “Lust.”
According to his IMDB profile, he is best known for his roles in “The Departed” (2006), “It's Complicated” (2009), “The Cooler” (2003) and “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1992). He is also known for his performances on “Saturday Night Live” and his role in the TV series “30 Rock.”
As an actor, he has won numerous awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Series for his role in 30 Rock in 2009. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2017 and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2008 and 2009. Alec has also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor several times.
Alec is married to Hilaria Baldwin, with whom he has seven children, and is also father to Ireland Baldwin from his previous marriage to Kim Basinger.
Baldwin played several roles on the set of Lust, including starring as well as serving as a producer, when his gun went off on the set, killing cinematographer Halina Hutchins.
Alec Baldwin is facing manslaughter charges.
Fox News Digital's Breana Scheckwitz contributed to this report.