What the judges really believe about the Luigi Mangione obsession

A group of three judges acknowledge the common frustration of everyday Americans with the health care industry, but they are "alarmed" by the growing support for the suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer.

On December 4 in midtown Manhattan, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed by Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man. Prosecutors believe that the murder was intended to convey a message to the health care insurance industry, as a manifesto was discovered on the suspect when he was arrested days later in Pennsylvania.

Although Mangione's alleged crime was cold-blooded, he has gained supporters due to his manifesto and appearance. Internet fan groups have emerged for the suspect, while "Saturday Night Live" faced backlash for cheering for Mangione during a live taping.

The three judges on "Tribunal Justice," including Judge Judith Sheindlin, were horrified by the Mangione movement but understood the frustrations of Americans with the healthcare industry.

"Judge Adam Levy, son of Judge Judy and one-third of the panel of judges on "Tribunal Justice," told Planet Chronicle Digital that he was a little surprised by the outward support that a person received online, something that they hadn't seen before. However, after giving it some more thought, he understood the frustration that people have with the health industry at-large, putting aside the people online who supported him because they said he was good-looking or what have you."

Tanya Acker, host of "The Tanya Acker Show podcast," was similarly unsettled by Mangione's rise to fame as a cultural icon.

"Acker expressed his concern to Fox Digital about how some people have glorified a murderer, despite the numerous criticisms that can be made about insurance company practices. Although he has his own grievances, he believes that unless one is willing to take extreme measures such as killing their boss or politicians, people should simply stop glorifying the murderer. The killing was premeditated and should be treated as such."

Mangione's social media support caught the eye of the NYPD commissioner too.

"NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that Luigi Mangione has been formally charged and indicted for murder. Since Mr. Thompson's death, there has been a horrific and unacceptable celebration of cold-blooded murder on social media, which has praised this cowardly act."

DiMango, a former New York State Supreme Court Justice, also commented on Mangione's case. She described him as a mysterious figure whose background did not indicate he would become a ruthless murderer.

"The speaker told Planet Chronicle Digital that while the masses were fascinated with Mangione, she believes it's more about his message and his role as a messenger. She also pointed out the unusual aspects of the case, such as Mangione's background as a valedictorian, Ivy League education, and affluent status, which made him an unlikely suspect."

"In my opinion, it seems like the situation here is similar to the growing tension between the rich and poor, with the underprivileged feeling marginalized and entitled," she stated.

Levy suggested that the system should be modified and public officials should be held responsible for their actions, but not to an excessive degree.

"If a child, sibling, or parent is wrongfully denied coverage, resulting in their death, an ordinarily rational person can become irrational, so decisions must be made to change the system."

The judges stated that season two, which premieres this month, will showcase improvements from season one.

"Our show, especially the second season, is great because as people get to know us better, we have more interesting cases and a variety of cases," Acker said. "This year, viewers will enjoy the depth of the cases, which will add more intrigue."

"DiMango explained that the cases they handle range from small claims court cases, dog bites, and landlord-tenant disputes, to more serious matters involving domestic abuse situations. These cases have resulted in good deliberations."

Cameras are now ubiquitous in society, resulting in more dramatic videos from litigants and a more captivating audience experience.

The second season of "Tribunal Justice" premieres on Prime Video on Monday, January 27, with new episodes streaming daily.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Audrey Conkilin contributed to this report.