Manhattan attorneys are seeking a July 2026 state trial despite a pending federal prosecution that could carry the death penalty
Manhattan prosecutors have asked a state judge to schedule a July 1, 2026, trial date for Luigi Mangione, despite a parallel federal prosecution that is set to move forward later in the year.
In a letter filed with the court, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, led by Joel Seidemann, requested that Judge Gregory Carro set the state murder case for early July. The request follows a recent federal court ruling that scheduled jury selection in Mangione’s federal case for September 2026, with a trial expected to begin in October 2026 or January 2027, depending on whether prosecutors are able to pursue the death penalty.
BREAKING: Manhattan prosecutors have submitted a letter asking Judge Carro to set a trial date for Luigi Mangione on July 1, 2026. The request comes after Mangione’s federal judge scheduled jury selection for September 2026, with a federal trial set for October 2026 or January… pic.twitter.com/QNDAAhsJIS
— Lauren Conlin (@conlin_lauren) January 28, 2026
Mangione’s defense team has repeatedly argued that the federal case should proceed first, particularly given the possibility of capital punishment. Defense attorneys have said trying the state case first could complicate Mangione’s ability to prepare for a federal trial where his life may be at stake. On January 30, a federal judge is expected to make a ruling on whether or not the two charges that make the case death penalty eligible, interstate stalking and murder through the use of a firearm, will be dropped.
Prosecutors, however, have maintained that New York has a strong interest in moving forward quickly with its case, and federal prosecutors only became involved two weeks after the state’s arrest. They argue that delaying the state trial until after the federal proceedings could result in significant postponements and undermine the public’s interest in the resolution of a homicide allegedly committed within the city. Mangione’s attorney, Karen Agnifilo has pushed back in an official statement. “This is the first that the defense is hearing about this request. The federal government already has a firm trial date set in September. As a practical matter, Mr. Mangione’s defense team will require the remainder of the year to prepare for that trial. We will respond to the Court about this unrealistic request in the coming days.”
Credit: Lauren Conlin
Mangione is facing separate charges in state and federal court stemming from the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan in December 2024. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Judge Carro has not yet ruled on the prosecution’s request to set the July 2026 trial date, nor has he made a ruling on evidence from the December 2025 suppression hearings. The evidence ruling is expected in May of 2026.