Alec Baldwin To Skip Latest ‘Rust’ Hearing; Actor Gets Waiver From Judge Just Ahead Of Virtual Session On Fatal Shooting Criminal Case

deadline.com:

Once again, Alec Baldwin will not be showing up at a hearing in the criminal case for the Rust shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins back in October 2021.

Just hours before a rescheduled virtual hearing in front on New Mexico Judge Mary Marlow Sommer with co-defendant and ex-Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the actor has requested and been granted a waiver from appearing. “I understand that I am charged with the following offense or offenses under the law of the State of New Mexico: Involuntary Manslaughter (Section 30-2-3(B), NMSA 1978) in two alternatives,” Baldwin said in a filing Thursday in Santa Fe County. “I understand that I am entitled to personally appear before the Court at every stage of the criminal proceedings,” he added. “After reading and understanding the above, I request that the Court permit me to waive a personal appearance in court for the following proceedings:  All Status Conferences.” Judge Sommer quickly granted the request – which likely had as much to do with Baldwin and his NYC-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan attorneys trying to dim the media spotlight on the case as it did with the content of the session itself.

Still, for a hearing that was originally supposed to be on March 8, the process is very similar to when 64-year-old Baldwin officially entered a plea of not guilty on February 23 and waived his right to appear virtual at the very first hearing in the high-profile matter on February 24.

Reed did not waiver her right to appear and was present on-screen with her lawyer Jason Bowles, the judge, and D.A. Mary Carmack-Altwies at that February 24 gathering.