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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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The Utah judge overseeing the trial of the man accused of fatally shooting conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk last year said Monday that there could be a relaxed approach to his constitutional rights during preliminary hearings.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. was hearing arguments over which evidence and testimony could be used during Tyler Robinson's trial. The 23-year-old had asked that the prosecution be prevented from using hearsay to establish probable cause and requested his former roommate be forced to testify in person.
Graf told the court in Provo, Utah, that the state's constitution allowed hearsay evidence, adding that "a relaxed application of defendants’ constitutional rights" was allowed at this time, as this was not the full trial.
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Robinson has yet to enter a plea and has been charged with aggravated murder.
Newsweek reached out to Robinson's attorneys for comment via email Monday afternoon.
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What Did Tyler Robinson Ask For?
Robinson had asked the judge to call his former roommate, with whom he lived with at the time of Kirk's death, to testify in person during the preliminary hearing. The suspected assassin had reportedly texted the roommate that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred,” prosecutors have said.
Authorities have also alleged that Robinson used a firearm to carry out the attack and later attempted to conceal evidence and influence witnesses, though the primary count driving the case remains the capital felony of aggravated murder.
The defense team asked Graf to block prosecutors from using the roommate's recorded statements at the preliminary hearing, set to begin on July 6, arguing the roommate should be brought to testify in person so that Robinson can exercise his right to confront witnesses and challenge their credibility.
Graf denied that request, saying the time for challenging witnesses will come later.
Robinson had also asked that Graf not allow hearsay put forward by the prosecution as evidence. Graf made the comments on constitutional rights, per NBC News, before stating that a preliminary hearing was not a trial, and does not determine guilt or innocence.
The judge also held off on ruling whether prosecutors could face sanctions for comments to the media about a bullet fragment found on Kirk's body. That decision could come on Friday.
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A Case Drawing National Attention
Kirk was a prominent conservative activist and media figure, best known as the founder of Turning Point USA, a youth organization aimed at mobilizing conservative voters—particularly on college campuses.
He was shot on September 10, 2025, while appearing at an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Kirk, 31, had been engaging with students during a question-and-answer session when a single gunshot struck him. He was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
The killing drew widespread national attention, both because of Kirk’s high profile in conservative politics and the broader climate of rising political tensions at the time. His assassination was widely condemned across the political spectrum and sparked renewed debate about political violence in the country.
Authorities later arrested Robinson in connection with the shooting, and the case has since become one of the most closely watched criminal proceedings tied to alleged politically motivated violence in recent years.
What Happens Next
Robinson's preliminary hearing will take place in July, with a full trial at a later date.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty, something the defense attorneys have sought to prevent.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon, Gray R. Thomas and Anthony Murray.
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