A judge in Utah has mandated that a private hearing concerning Tyler Robinson, accused of the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, be made public.
Judge Tony Graf announced plans during a video hearing, lasting about 20 minutes, to release a transcript from the closed session held on October 24. This will be available with certain edits by Monday’s end. Additionally, he intends to make the audio of that hearing public, though this could take up to two weeks.
Robinson was not on camera during the hearing, yet responded affirmatively when asked if he would attend the upcoming Monday session.
The October 24 meeting was privately held to discuss whether Robinson could appear in regular clothing and without restraints during future court proceedings. The decision concluded that while he could wear civilian attire, he must stay restrained for security reasons.
Earlier this month, the 22-year-old made his first in-person appearance for his case, with his legal team contending that media coverage could influence potential jurors and compromise the fairness of his trial. Nonetheless, the lengthy public hearing was conducted behind closed doors, keeping both reporters and the public away.
Defense attorney Stacey Visser criticized the media, claiming that certain outlets filmed Robinson while he was shackled, disregarding the judge’s instructions.
Visser made clear, “We do not want the kind of chaos that is being reported in the media in this courtroom.”
Robinson faces several serious charges, including aggravated murder, serious bodily injury from discharging a firearm, obstruction of justice, two charges of witness tampering, and assault in a child’s presence.
Charlie Kirk, age 31, was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 during a lecture at Utah Valley University, where he was addressing a crowd of thousands.
A co-founder of Turning Point USA, he was part of his American Comeback Tour at the time of the incident. He is survived by his wife Erica and their two young children.
Erica has been vocal about her desire for courtroom cameras to be installed, aiming to dispel conspiracy theories related to her husband’s and Kirk’s deaths. She is recognized as the official victim representative in the case.
If found guilty, Robinson could face execution by firing squad, as Utah is one of a handful of states that still permit this form of capital punishment.
