Luigi Mangione, who is accused of the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is due to appear on Tuesday morning at Manhattan state court.

Mangione’s appearance comes less than a month before the start of his highly anticipated 8 September trial. Prosecutors allege that Mangione gunned down Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on 4 December 2024.

Mangione, 28, who was arrested at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s several days later, maintains his innocence. He also faces a federal trial on stalking charges related to Thompson’s killing.

The case has captured international audiences because Thompson’s death reignited discourse on America’s for-profit healthcare system – as well as Mangione’s ascent to folk-hero status among some of his supporters, enabled by social media.

This attention has caused concern that Mangione’s trial could devolve into a circus, as New York’s state court system has not provided an overflow room to accommodate press and public interest in these proceedings.

Mangione’s lawyers claimed, without citing any specific evidence, that state court officials and prosecutors developed a media plan, including which reporters would have seats, without consulting the defense. Media reports swiftly debunked this claim, as the prosecution does not have a role in determining seating.

Prosecutors said they neither had a role in determining reporters nor the preclusion of an overflow room. The defense later submitted another letter clarifying its position, but continued to request a hearing on the media access issue.