Luigi Mangione Trial Could Have 'Stealth Juror'—Lawyer

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What's New

Criminal defense lawyer Mark Geragos said Friday on a NewsNation newscast that the trial of Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare's CEO, could involve a "stealth juror."

Why It Matters

On December 4, Thompson was fatally shot by a masked gunman as he was walking to his company's annual investor conference at the New York Hilton Midtown. Days later, Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He has pleaded not guilty to forgery and weapons charges filed against him in the Keystone State.

In the days following Thompson's murder, Mangione has received financial and social support from numerous individuals, many of who have also expressed frustration with health insurance companies.

Due to the high-profile nature of the case and Mangione's popularity in some circles, some analysts have suggested finding unbiased jurors might be a little challenging.

What To Know

Mangione, who faces federal charges of murder and stalking, as well as New York State charges, including murder in furtherance of terrorism, will face a jury next year, although a trial date has not yet been set.

In a criminal trial, a jury must find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; if not, the defendant is deemed not guilty. A non-unanimous jury is considered hung.

Geragos said during the newscast, that "traditionally judges in the federal court give you a lot less time" for jury selection, which could impact the jury selection.

The Department of Justice's criminal indictment, unsealed Thursday, noted that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office case is "expected to proceed to trial before the federal case."

"If you're going to try to identify—if you're the prosecutor or the defense—a 'stealth juror' in a high-profile case, and that's the biggest fear on both sides, you don't have too much time to be able to do that."

A stealth juror is someone who conceals their biases or motives to secure a seat on the jury with the intent of influencing the outcome.

The Southern District of New York Attorney's Office declined to comment.

Newsweek has reached out to Mangione's defense lawyer, Karen Friedman Agnifilo for comment via email on Friday evening.

Mangione was extradited from Pennsylvania to New York City on Thursday where he was escorted by several police officers and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He is being held at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has indicted Mangione and will be leading the state charges against him. Geragos noted that the Southern District of New York, the federal trial court, "includes a larger geographic area than the Manhattan district does, so you're gonna have a larger pool [of jurors] with which to draw."

He also noted Mangione's support from some, saying, "I have rarely seen the kind of support pre-trial for somebody charged for murder that there is for this young man."

What People Are Saying

Barbara McQuade, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, told Newsweek in an email on Friday: "I think the jury selection process will weed out individuals who might be inclined to nullify the law in this case. The defense will not be permitted to argue that the murder was justified under the law, and so the evidence will focus on whether he committed this crime."

Elie Honig, CNN legal analyst and former prosecutor said on CNN Thursday: "I was always worried about jury nullification even in the most routine cases I handled as a prosecutor. All it takes is one juror and you have a hung jury...The risk [of a hung jury] here absolutely is elevated. I've never seen an outpouring of affection and support for a defendant charged with a vicious murder like we have in this case."

Attorney and former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani previously told Newsweek: "I've never seen an alleged murderer receive so much sympathy. To many people, Mangione is a hero of sorts," adding that Bragg's "office is going to have to weed out 'stealth jurors' during voir dire. They may want to acquit to send a message to health insurance companies."