Judge Delays In-Person Hearing For Alleged Charlie Kirk Assassin
The Utah County court has postponed the in-person hearing for Tyler James Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with aggravated murder in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, until January, according to reports released Saturday.
During a virtual session this week, Utah Fourth Judicial Court Judge Tony Graf Jr. announced that prosecutors and defense attorneys had agreed to the delay, citing ongoing discovery and pending motions.
In a separate ruling, Graf granted the defense motion allowing Robinson to appear in civilian clothing for all future pretrial hearings, agreeing that jail attire could unfairly bias potential jurors.
“Mr. Robinson shall be dressed as one presumed innocent,” the judge declared.
Graf ordered Robinson’s legal team to supply the clothing at least 72 hours before each hearing, consistent with an earlier agreement that the defendant could appear in civilian attire during the eventual trial.
The judge also prohibited media outlets from photographing or filming Robinson’s restraints or capturing images of him entering or leaving the courtroom.
“This is a high-profile case with strong public interest,” Graf said, according to Newsweek.
Robinson, who remains held without bail in the Utah County Jail, joined the hearing remotely but was not visible on camera. He spoke only once to confirm that he could hear the proceedings.
Last week, prosecutors and defense attorneys met privately to address multiple issues, including the defense’s requests regarding Robinson’s attire and the use of restraints in court. Prosecutors had objected, citing security concerns and the need for clear identification of the defendant during proceedings.
Graf ultimately sided with the defense, writing:
“Balancing these factors, the court finds that Mr. Robinson’s right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire.”
The judge acknowledged Robinson’s clean record and lack of misconduct in custody but emphasized the gravity of the charges, which carry possible sentences of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
“The emotional nature of these proceedings also raise the risk of disruption,” Graf noted. “The case has attracted extraordinary public and media attention. Images of Mr. Robinson in jail clothing are likely to circulate widely and influence prospective jurors. Given the scale of that publicity, the risk of prejudice is significant.”
Both sides, Graf said, require additional time to review evidence and file motions on procedural matters — including whether upcoming non-evidentiary hearings will continue remotely and whether media access should be further restricted.
The judge scheduled in-person hearings for January 16 and January 30 at 1 p.m. MST at the Utah County Courthouse in Provo.
Robinson faces seven total charges, including six felonies: aggravated murder, multiple counts of witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege he fatally shot Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, on September 10 in what investigators have described as a politically motivated assassination.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has formally filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted.
During a press briefing last month, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau continues to pursue every lead in the case.
“We are running out absolutely every single lead, and the best thing we can do to honor my friend Charlie Kirk’s life is to make sure that everyone involved is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and that’s what we are focused on: investigating the facts, not trading in conspiracy theories,” Patel said.
The next phase of proceedings is expected to determine how the court manages the extraordinary media scrutiny surrounding one of the most high-profile political murder cases in recent memory.