(Provo) The 22-year-old Utah man accused of killing Charlie Kirk made his first court appearance Thursday as his lawyers work to further limit media access to the high-profile criminal case.
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A Utah judge is currently weighing the public’s right to know the details of Tyler Robinson’s trial against the concerns of his lawyers, who fear the media attention will infringe on his right to a fair trial.
Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom.
Prosecutors charged Robinson with aggravated murder for fatally shooting the far-right activist on September 10 on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They intend to seek the death penalty.
Robinson arrived at court handcuffed at the wrists and ankles and wearing a shirt, tie and pants. He smiled at his family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother shed a few tears and wiped her eyes with a tissue. The accused’s father and brother were seated next to her.
Robinson previously appeared in court via video or audio conference from jail.
A coalition of national and local news organizations, including the Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access to the story.
Judge Graf has already moved to protect Robinson’s presumption of innocence ahead of trial, acknowledging that the case was attracting “extraordinary” public interest.
On October 24, Judge Graf held a closed hearing in which attorneys discussed Robinson’s courtroom attire and security protocols.
Under a later ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to wear civilian clothes in court during preliminary hearings, but he must be physically restrained for safety reasons. Judge Graf also barred the media from filming or photographing Robinson’s handcuffs after his lawyers argued that releasing images showing him handcuffed and dressed in a prison uniform could influence future jurors.
Several university students who witnessed Charlie Kirk’s shooting attended Thursday’s hearing.
Michael Judd, a lawyer for the media coalition, urged Mr. Graf to let news organizations decide on any future requests for closed hearings or other restrictions.
Media presence at hearings in Utah is already limited, with judges often appointing a photographer and videographer to document a hearing and share their footage with other news outlets. Other journalists can usually attend the hearing to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.
Me Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “preserves the integrity of the investigative process” while enhancing public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the United States have long been open to the public, which he said proves that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting the work of journalists working to inform the public.
Mr Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, called for full transparency, saying: “We deserve to have cameras in the room.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to steer young voters toward conservatism.
Robinson’s legal team says the hype surrounding his trial before it even began extended to the White House, with Donald Trump saying shortly after Robinson’s arrest: “We’re almost certain we get him” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”
Attorney Kathy Nester expressed concern that the widespread distribution of altered versions of Robinson’s initial courtroom photo is helping to generate misinformation about the case. Some edited footage shows Robinson crying or losing his temper in court, which did not happen.
