Alec Baldwin recently won a big victory in court after filing a motion through his lawyers asking for the dismissal of a firearm enhancement on the charges he was facing relating to the shooting on the set of Rust. The dismissal of this enhancement was a major win for Baldwin, reducing his potential punishment from five years to a maximum of 18 months. However, the District Attorney’s Office made comments that have caused shock and outrage in the legal community.
In a statement, the District Attorney’s Office noted that they had dropped the firearm enhancements to avoid further litigious distractions by Baldwin and his attorneys. They also said that the prosecution’s priority is securing justice, not securing billable hours for big city attorneys. However, they also went further, criticizing Baldwin and his attorneys for trying to “distract from the gross negligence” of the shooting.
This kind of statement is completely inappropriate for an office of the law. It is attacking Baldwin’s right to a defence and to hire counsel, and casts doubt on the integrity of the prosecution. Lawyer Ian Runkle of The Bailey expressed his shock and horror at the statements, noting that they make him question the validity of the prosecution’s claims.
Ultimately, Baldwin won this battle, but the District Attorney’s Office has drawn fire for their comments. This incident serves to highlight the importance of a defendant’s right to a defence and to hire counsel, no matter their celebrity status.