Luigi Mangione to stand trial in Manhattan federal court in January; State trial set for September

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Luigi Mangione will stand trial in Manhattan federal court beginning January 5 with jury selection followed by opening statements January 25.

Judge Margaret Garnett said she hoped to have a trial this fall but the state trial, scheduled to begin September 8, makes that impossible.

"In my view it's simply impossible for us to be moving through the jury selection process in this case while the defendant and his counsel are fully engaged in the state trial," Garnett said.

Defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo said New York State Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro will hold firm to the September 8 start.

"We've been told that no requests for adjournment will be granted and to be ready on that date," she said.

Hundreds of prospective jurors, drawn from Manhattan, the Bronx and New York City's northern suburbs, will fill out questionnaires in December. Garnett said she would not post the questionnaire on the public docket until all prospective jurors finish filling it out, saying that the need for a fair and impartial jury overrides the customary expectation of public access to the document.

The defense said it might ask the judge to include additional questions depending how Mangione's state trial goes.

Once individual voir dire begins January 5, attorneys will question between several dozen prospective jurors each day until there is a qualified panel of 38 from which lawyers can make peremptory strikes.

The jury will be comprised of 12 jurors and 6 alternates.

Mangione said nothing during the hearing. He walked out in silence.

Earlier, Mangione was stuck with the U,S, marshals in an elevator, delaying his court appearance.

Mangione entered the courtroom in beige jail garb, about 20 minutes late, and chatted with his attorneys as supporters filling the back rows leaned in to look at him.