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By Jenna Sundel and Jason Lemon
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Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf granted a request from Tyler Robinson, allowing him to wear civilian clothing in court appearances as his trial proceeds for allegedly assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA.
The Utah judge said the defendant "shall be dressed as one who is presumed innocent" during pretrial hearings.
However, Graf denied Robinson's request to appear without restraints, with Graf barring the media from taking photos or videos of the defendant's restraints. Additionally, the media will not be allowed to capture images of the 22-year-old entering or exiting the courtroom.
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Why It Matters
Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University (UVU) on September 10 while debating with students. He was known for sharing conservative values with young voters and was a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Robinson is facing multiple charges in connection with Kirk's assassination, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors said they plan to seek the death penalty.
"This is a high-profile case with strong public interest," Graf said.
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What To Know
Robinson attended the remote hearing and did not appear on camera but did acknowledge that he could hear the proceedings when the judge asked him.
The prosecution and defense held a closed-door hearing on October 24 on several matters, including the defense's motion for Robinson to appear in civilian clothing and without restraints.
The defense argued there is a risk of prejudice if the public and potential jurors repeatedly see Robinson in jail attire. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that jail clothing assists with safety and identification.
"Balancing these factors, the court finds that Mr. Robinson's right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire," Graf said.
Graf noted that Robinson has no criminal record or record of misconduct since he was taken into custody, but the charges he is facing are "extraordinarily serious" with potential penalties of life in prison or the death penalty.
"The emotional nature of these proceedings also raise the risk of disruption," Graf said.
The judge said the defense and prosecution need additional time to complete discovery and file motions related to whether non-evidentiary hearings should be held remotely and whether the court should impose any restrictions on cameras in the courtroom.
What People Are Saying
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf, at a hearing on Monday: "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."
FBI Director Kash Patel, at a press briefing on October 15: "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."
What Happens Next?
Robinson's next court hearing is scheduled for January 16.
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