​​Alec Baldwin Takes Notes, Keeps Head Down During Court Appearance Ahead of Involuntary Manslaughter Trial

Alec Baldwin appeared in First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Monday, July 8, for a day of hearings on legal motions related to his involuntary manslaughter trial, which is set to begin July 9.

The 66-year-old Emmy winner, who was holding a prop gun in 2021 on the set of the Western movie Rust when it discharged, injuring director Joel Souza and killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, sat with his legal team, including high-profile attorney Alex Spiro of law firm Quinn Emanuel. 

While the prosecutors and defense made arguments on various motions to preclude certain evidence and testimony from being admitted at trial, Baldwin — wearing a dark suit and thick, framed eyeglasses — kept his head down, and at times appeared to take notes.

At one point, he steepled his hands near his face and fidgeted with a ring he was wearing.

Since the fatal shooting occurred, Baldwin has insisted he did not pull the trigger or know that the gun mistakenly contained live ammunition. He submitted a not guilty plea in January shortly after a grand jury indicted him on the involuntary manslaughter charge.

The actor, who previously waived his right to appear at pretrial hearings, faces up to 18 months in prison if convicted.

Rust’s armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was in charge of the weapons on set, was convicted in March of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Hutchins’ death. She is currently serving an 18-month sentence in prison, which was handed down by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, the same judge as in Baldwin’s case.

Her verdict has Baldwin "understandably worried,” a source told PEOPLE in May. "He has an excellent legal team. I don't think anyone is thinking jail time, but given the decision for Ms. Gutierrez-Reed, it’s hard to know."

Nevertheless, Baldwin, who shares seven children — Carmen, 10, Rafael, 8, Leonardo, 7, Romeo, 5, Eduardo, 3, María, 3, and Ilaria, 19 months — with his wife Hilaria, 40, has put on a brave face in public.

In a June 4 Instagram post, he and Hilaria revealed their new TLC series The Baldwins is set to debut in 2025. It will follow the couple as they raise their kids (Baldwin is also father to Ireland, 28, with ex-wife Kim Basinger, 70), giving viewers a glimpse of “the good, the bad, the wild and the crazy,” he said.

“Home is the place we love to be most,” he added.

For the time being, at least, Baldwin’s temporary home will be in New Mexico while his trial proceeds.

Jury selection is set to begin July 9.