Court rejects bid to ban TV in Charlie Kirk murder case

A Utah judge denied a request by Tyler Robinson, accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to ban live TV and photography during courtroom hearings, but granted his request to postpone a key hearing.

District Court Judge Tony Graf said Friday that the TV live broadcasts allowed maximum public access to the proceedings, held the justice system accountable for its actions, and that the court took precautions, such as not showing Robinson’s shackles, to prevent visual broadcasts from tainting potential jurors.

Robinson’s attorneys had argued that live feeds from the courtroom led to sensationalist and biased media coverage that could skew the jury pool in the aggravated murder trial.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, media outlets and prosecutors have urged the court to allow cameras during the hearings, arguing it is the best way to counter misinformation and conspiracy theories surrounding the case.

Graf granted a defense request to postpone the preliminary hearing until July 6-10, where prosecutors must show sufficient evidence for Graf to believe a crime has been committed and a trial is warranted.

The hearing was previously scheduled for mid-May. Robinson’s attorneys said they need additional time to review data files that allegedly show Robinson’s DNA and other key evidence on the rifle used to kill Kirk. Graf decided that the next hearing of the case will be held on May 19.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Robinson if Kirk is found guilty of the Sept. 10 murder.

Robinson, 23, was training as an electrician at the time of the shooting. He is accused of firing a single shot from the roof that struck Kirk while he was arguing with students at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Kirk has been credited with mobilizing young voters who helped President Donald Trump win the 2024 election. His murder on stage in front of thousands of people was a shocking demonstration of the increasing political violence in the United States.