Judge dismisses Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit over ‘Rust’ shooting - But is the legal fight really over?

A New Mexico judge has dismissed Alec Baldwin’s lawsuit against prosecutors and law enforcement, claiming malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021.

The ruling, made public on Wednesday, tossed the case without prejudice, meaning Baldwin's legal team can refile it - and likely will.

According to court records, the lawsuit had seen no significant movement since it was filed earlier this year in state district court. But Baldwin’s lead attorney, Luke Nikas, called the dismissal a “nonevent,” telling AP that they’ve been engaged in good-faith settlement talks and plan to refile the suit if those talks fall apart.

The original lawsuit names special prosecutor Kari Morrissey, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, three sheriff’s office investigators, and the Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners as defendants.

Baldwin's legal team accuse them of defamation and political manoeuvring, claiming the actor was singled out for personal gain.

“Defendants sought at every turn to scapegoat Baldwin for the acts and omissions of others, regardless of the evidence or the law,” the lawsuit states.

Baldwin had previously faced an involuntary manslaughter charge, but that case collapsed in court last year when it emerged that prosecutors may have withheld crucial evidence. The charge was ultimately dismissed.

A key twist came when it was revealed that live ammunition may have been brought into the sheriff’s office months earlier - raising major questions about how the deadly bullet made its way onto the set.

The tragedy unfolded in October 2021 during a rehearsal at a film-set ranch near Santa Fe. Baldwin was holding a prop pistol that discharged, killing Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The actor has maintained he did not pull the trigger, only the hammer, when the revolver went off.

Separately, the shooting led to an involuntary manslaughter conviction at trial last year against movie weapons supervisor Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. She is serving out a maximum sentence of 18 months at a state penitentiary.

But Baldwin isn’t out of legal jeopardy yet. He and other Rust producers are still being sued by Hutchins’ parents and younger sister in New Mexico state court.

Court records show a deposition for Baldwin in that case was put off in May and has yet to be rescheduled.