Overview

• The defense has filed a motion to dismiss the federal indictment on the grounds that the jury selection process systematically underrepresents Black, Hispanic/Latino people and men.
• U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo heard oral arguments on the motion this week and has not yet issued a ruling.
• Prosecutors have opposed dismissal in a written response, arguing that any demographic disparities fall within accepted guidance and are not caused by the district’s jury plan.
• A separate defense motion seeks to exempt Payton Gendron from the death penalty based on his age of 18 at the time of the shooting, invoking developmental-mitigation arguments.
• Gendron remains in state custody serving life without parole and faces federal hate crime and weapons charges that carry potential capital punishment with a trial tentatively set for mid-2026.