Judge in Charlie Kirk Murder Case Sets April Hearing on Whether Trial Can Be Televised

The public will not learn until next month whether cameras will be allowed at the murder trial of Charlie Kirk’s accused killer but a defense request to seal off certain motions in the case was denied on Friday.Tyler Robinson faces murder charges in connection with the September 2025 assassination of Kirk at Utah Valley University. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty in the case.Lawyers for Mr. Robinson argued Friday at Provo, Utah, that it would be prejudicial to their client for motions concerning certain details of evidence to be handled in public. Judge Tony Graf disagreed, saying the public’s right to know outweighed the defense’s claims that the publicity could hurt Mr. Robinson’s right to a fair trial.Judge Graf set an April 17 hearing over a separate defense request to bar cameras from the courtroom. He said that hearing will be held in public but parts of it might need to be private.News organizations are fighting to keep cameras in the courtroom, a request seconded by prosecutors and by Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who previously said, “We deserve to have cameras in there.”Judge Graf said he will not immediately rule on media access during the April hearing because he will need time to weigh each side’s argument.Mr. Robinson has not entered a plea in the case yet. He was in court for Friday’s hearing but television cameras did not show him.A previous hearing in the case was interrupted when the defense team told the judge that the camera operator had violated instructions that he not show Mr. Robinson’s restraints. Judge Graf said the TV camera could stay but ordered it moved away from the defense team’s table to the other side of the courtroom.Judge Graf previously denied a motion from Mr. Robinson’s legal team seeking to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case because the daughter of a staff member in that office was present at the time of Kirk’s killing. The judge has also blocked full videos of Kirk’s murder from being shown in court.A probable cause hearing for prosecutors to lay out evidence for charges is tentatively set for May. Mr. Robinson is being held without bail.

Judge in Charlie Kirk Murder Case Sets April Hearing on Whether Trial Can Be Televised

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