SALT LAKE CITY — Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the defendant charged with murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, are requesting that a judge prohibit cameras from courtroom proceedings, claiming that televised coverage is compromising their client’s constitutional right to an impartial trial.
Robinson is scheduled to appear in court Friday as his legal team argues that prejudicial media reporting is influencing prospective jurors in the aggravated murder prosecution.
The defense pointed to multiple instances of problematic coverage, including a New York Post article that allegedly implied Robinson admitted guilt during a December 11 courtroom exchange with his lawyers at his initial appearance following formal charges. While the discussion between Robinson and his counsel was not audible, the publication relied on what it called “lip reading analysis” to claim Robinson stated, “I think about the shooting daily.”
“The predominant purpose being served by the live stream coverage has not been the educational reporting of the court proceedings, but rather advertising profit, sensationalism, political agendas, and, most prominently, the vilification of Mr. Robinson,” his attorneys wrote in their request to bar cameras.
The state plans to pursue capital punishment against Robinson if he is found guilty in the September 10 fatal shooting of Kirk, who was speaking before thousands of attendees at Utah Valley University in Orem. Robinson, who celebrated his 23rd birthday Thursday, has yet to formally respond to the charges.
Sensationalized reporting has affected the case from multiple angles. On March 30, the U.K.’s Daily Mail published a headline claiming the fatal bullet “did NOT match” the weapon allegedly used by Robinson. This report stemmed from inconclusive preliminary ballistics findings and sparked theories about potential innocence. Federal investigators continue conducting additional forensic examinations, court filings show.
News organizations, state prosecutors, and Kirk’s surviving spouse, Erika Kirk, support maintaining camera access in the courtroom. They contend that transparency represents the most effective method to combat the false information and conspiracy theories that worry Robinson’s defense counsel.
However, media livestreaming has already frustrated Judge Tony Graf on multiple occasions.
At the December proceeding, Graf temporarily halted the video feed and directed camera repositioning after footage revealed the defendant’s restraints, violating established courtroom protocols.
A January hearing was similarly disrupted when Robinson’s lawyers complained that close-up livestreamed images of their client by a regional television outlet could generate additional lip-reading speculation. This also breached Graf’s conduct guidelines. The judge instructed camera personnel to avoid filming Robinson for the session’s duration.
Mike Judd, representing a media coalition that includes The Associated Press in fighting for continued access, noted that Graf has concentrated on courtroom rule compliance rather than external media commentary.
“The court can do all of that in order to try to control what gets fed into that media ecosystem,” Judd said. “You reduce the likelihood of somebody publishing things that you think may be of potentially biasing concern later on.”
Camera and livestreaming protocols differ across states, with Utah among those granting judicial discretion over camera permissions. Federal courts typically ban cameras entirely.
“There’s Supreme Court precedent that says courts generally need to be open to the public, but that’s not an absolute right,” said University of Utah law professor Teneille Brown. “Even if they allow public access, that does not equal a right to broadcast or record.”
Robinson’s legal team seeks to postpone his May preliminary hearing, where prosecutors must demonstrate sufficient evidence to advance to trial.
State attorneys report that DNA matching Robinson’s profile was discovered on the weapon’s trigger mechanism, the discharged shell casing, two unused cartridges, and a towel that wrapped the rifle. Defense counsel emphasizes that forensic analyses show multiple individuals’ DNA on certain evidence, requiring more sophisticated evaluation.
According to prosecutors, Robinson allegedly sent text messages to a romantic partner stating he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”
