‘Deeply prejudicial’: Luigi Mangione begs judge to lose the handcuffs and bulletproof vest

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is asking to appear in court without handcuffs or a bulletproof vest at his next hearing on June 26th. His legal team, which includes Karen Friedman Agnifilo, Marc Agnifilo, and Jacob Kaplan, says that Mangione’s current appearance in court is “extremely unfair,” “deeply prejudicial,” and hurts his right to a fair trial. This request was filed in a legal document submitted to Judge Gregory Carro.

related to Thompson’s death. A few hours later, New York authorities charged him with second-degree murder for the same crime. In April 2025, he was also charged with federal crimes, which made his case eligible for the death penalty, according to Newsweek.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a statement from April, called Thompson’s murder a “planned, ruthless killing” and confirmed that the federal government is seeking the death penalty, pointing to President Trump’s push to reduce violent crime. Mangione’s lawyers argue that seeing him in court with handcuffs and a bulletproof vest gives the wrong impression and could bias potential jurors, as reported by The Hill.

Luigi Mangione has yet to cause any trouble

Mangione’s lawyers stress that he has always behaved well in prison and during past court appearances. His lawyers describe him as a “model prisoner and a model defendant in court,” noting that he has been cooperative and respectful toward court and prison staff. They also mention that during his appearances in federal court in December 2024 and April 2025, he was not handcuffed or made to wear a bulletproof vest.

The defense team’s legal filing specifically argues that the restraints make it harder for Mangione to fully participate in his own defense. They say the handcuffs stop him from taking notes, looking at legal documents, and talking easily with his lawyers. They also argue that there is no good security reason to treat Mangione differently in state court than in federal court. The lawyers point out that everyone entering the courthouse goes through metal detectors, so a bulletproof vest is unnecessary.

They also state that, as far as they know, there have been no threats against Mangione’s safety, saying that “the only one trying to execute him is the federal government.” They argue that the bulletproof vest only makes Mangione look bad in the media and to potential jurors.

A different perspective comes from an Associated Press report, which acknowledges that Mangione’s lawyers call him a “model” prisoner. However, the report also notes that Mangione has shown “bold signs of frustration” since the start of his trial, including an incident during a December extradition hearing where he was photographed shouting at the press and struggling with law enforcement. This information, while recognizing his better behavior as described by his legal team, provides a different view from what his defense claims.

Mangione’s lead attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former prosecutor, further argues that images of Mangione in handcuffs and a bulletproof vest create a false story, making him seem unusually dangerous and requiring extra security. She says this deliberate portrayal has led to unfair and unnecessary displays of force.

The decision on whether to grant Mangione’s request is up to Judge Gregory Carro. His ruling will decide if Mangione appears in court on June 26 in restraints and a bulletproof vest or, as his lawyers have asked, without them.