Manhattan DA Seeks July Trial for Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO Killer

Prosecutors want state trial to precede federal case against Luigi Mangione

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:39pm

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The Manhattan district attorney's office is pushing for accused killer Luigi Mangione to stand trial in state court starting on July 1, at least three months ahead of when he could face trial in federal court. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the assassination-style killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan in December 2024.

Why it matters

This high-profile case has sparked significant public interest and concern in New York City, with the murder taking place in a busy commercial area of Manhattan. The state is seeking to uphold the fundamental right to life and deliver justice swiftly for a crime committed within its jurisdiction.

The details

Federal judge Margaret Garnett said Mangione would stand trial in October if she eliminates the death penalty as a possible sentence, as the defense has sought. Otherwise, she said, Mangione would stand trial in January. The Manhattan district attorney's office argues there are 'significant state interests' in putting Mangione on trial sooner, citing the need to maintain public order and deliver justice quickly for a crime committed in the state's jurisdiction. Defense attorneys have sought to suppress evidence, arguing police waited too long to read Mangione his rights and unlawfully searched his backpack.

  • Mangione is set to stand trial in state court starting on July 1, 2026.
  • Mangione's federal trial is currently scheduled for October 2026 if the death penalty is eliminated, or January 2027 otherwise.

The players

Luigi Mangione

The accused killer who has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the assassination-style killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Brian Thompson

The UnitedHealthcare CEO who was killed in an assassination-style attack in Manhattan in December 2024.

Margaret Garnett

The federal judge overseeing Mangione's federal trial, who has set jury selection for September 8.

Joel Seidemann

The assistant district attorney in the Manhattan district attorney's office, who argued in a letter that the state has a 'deep interest' in upholding the right to life and delivering justice quickly for the crime.

Gregory Carro

The judge presiding over Mangione's state case, who is weighing a defense request to suppress evidence.

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What they’re saying

“This heinous crime happened in midtown Manhattan, one of the busiest commercial areas in this County and spread fear and shock throughout Manhattan. New York State unquestionably has a deep interest in, upholding the fundamental right to life, maintaining public order, and delivering justice for a murder committed in its jurisdiction.”

— Joel Seidemann, Assistant District Attorney

“Federal law supports our request that we proceed first and our right to a speedy resolution of this case would be severely compromised should the federal trial proceed first.”

— Joel Seidemann, Assistant District Attorney

What’s next

Judge Gregory Carro is expected to rule in May on the defense's request to suppress evidence pulled from Mangione's backpack. If the state case proceeds first, jury selection for Mangione's federal trial is scheduled to begin on September 8.

The takeaway

This high-profile murder case highlights the complex jurisdictional issues that can arise when a crime is prosecuted at both the state and federal level. The Manhattan district attorney's office is pushing to try Mangione first in state court, arguing the state has a strong interest in delivering swift justice for a crime committed within its borders.