Luigi Mangione's federal trial in Manhattan for the murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson is now scheduled to start in January 2027, after a judge adjourned the case to avoid conflicting with his state trial.
Federal trial date set
Manhattan federal court judge Margaret Garnett announced on Monday that jury selection will begin on January 5, 2027, with opening statements scheduled for January 25. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks. Garnett had previously hoped to hold the trial in November 2026 but acknowledged that Mangione and his legal team would be occupied with his state trial, making meaningful jury selection impossible.
“As you know, I had hoped with perhaps undue optimism to preserve a possibility of a fall trial in this case,” Garnett said. “I’m going to adjourn the trial to our previously agreed backup date.”
State trial scheduled for September
Mangione's state-level trial is set for September 8, 2025. He faces murder and weapons charges in that case, while the federal proceedings include stalking counts. Mangione has pleaded not guilty in both cases.
Mangione appeared in court on Monday wearing khaki jail scrubs. The hearing began about 30 minutes late, at 11:50 a.m., because Mangione got stuck in an elevator at the courthouse, according to two sources. A third source confirmed the elevator issue. Lead attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo declined to comment on the case but said, “Can’t wait to hear what you guys have to say and find out about that” regarding the elevator delay.
Psychiatric defense withdrawn
Mangione's state case has seen recent uncertainty. On June 17, Judge Gregory Carro revealed that Mangione's lawyers planned to pursue a psychiatric defense, citing an “extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the occurrence.” Carro ordered the defense to disclose any “mental defect” Mangione allegedly suffered during the December 4, 2024 shooting.
However, a letter from Mangione's defense later withdrew the 250.10 notice, which would have required sharing psychiatric information with prosecutors. Despite this, a legal expert noted that Mangione could still attempt to show mental distress at trial to seek a manslaughter conviction instead of murder.
Background and public reaction
Thompson's death sparked a massive manhunt and renewed criticism of the US for-profit healthcare industry. Mangione has gained a small but vocal group of supporters known as Mangionistas.
