Judge Rules Key Hearing in Charlie Kirk Murder Case Will Be Open to Public

A Utah judge on Monday rejected a defense bid to close a pivotal court hearing for the man accused of assassinating conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, ruling that the public and press retain a presumptive constitutional right to watch the proceedings unfold.

Judge Tony Graf denied the request by attorneys for Tyler Robinson, 23, of southwestern Utah, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus. A five-day preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6-10, during which prosecutors must demonstrate they have sufficient evidence to send the case to trial — the most significant airing of evidence since Robinson's arrest.

"The public and the media enjoy a presumptive right to access court proceedings, including preliminary hearings," Graf said in his ruling, adding that the defense had not shown that public access would deny Robinson a fair trial.

The evidence prosecutors plan to introduce is substantial. Authorities said DNA consistent with Robinson's was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, on the fired cartridge casing, on two unfired cartridges and on a towel used to wrap the weapon. Prosecutors said Robinson left a note for his romantic partner that read, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it."

Planned exhibits include forensic analyses, surveillance video, recorded witness statements, autopsy findings and alleged messages from Robinson admitting to the killing. Prosecutors and defense attorneys reached one narrow agreement: media will be restricted from viewing or copying certain exhibits that could be introduced at a future trial.

Robinson has not yet entered a plea. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.

A separate dispute over prosecutorial conduct will be heard June 12, when defense attorneys argue that prosecutor Christopher Ballard conducted an improper "media tour" expressing opinions about Robinson's guilt. Prosecutors deny that characterization, saying Ballard acted only to correct public misinformation stemming from an inconclusive preliminary ballistics finding.

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