The in-person hearing in Utah County for Tyler James Robinson, 22, who is charged with aggravated murder in the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been postponed until January, according to a Saturday report.
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to postpone the hearing, Utah Fourth Judicial Court Judge Tony Graf Jr. announced during a virtual session this week.
Graf also granted a defense request allowing Robinson to appear in civilian clothing at future pretrial hearings, agreeing with the argument that wearing jail attire could prejudice potential jurors.
“Mr. Robinson shall be dressed as one presumed innocent,” the judge said.
Graf ordered Robinson’s attorneys to provide civilian clothing at least 72 hours before each hearing. Both sides had previously agreed that Robinson would be permitted to wear civilian attire during his trial.
The judge also prohibited media outlets from photographing or filming Robinson’s restraints, as well as from capturing images of the 22-year-old entering or exiting the courtroom, Newsweek reported.
“This is a high-profile case with strong public interest,” Graf said during the hearing, per Newsweek.
Robinson participated in the hearing remotely and did not appear on camera, but confirmed to the judge that he could hear the proceedings. Last week, prosecutors and defense attorneys met in a closed-door session to address several issues, including the defense’s request for Robinson to appear in civilian clothing and without restraints.
Defense attorneys argued that repeatedly showing Robinson in jail attire could create bias among the public and potential jurors. Prosecutors opposed the motion, citing security concerns and the need for clear identification of the defendant during court proceedings.
“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.
The judge further acknowledged that Robinson has no prior criminal record and has not exhibited any misconduct while in custody. However, he emphasized that the charges against Robinson are “extraordinarily serious,” carrying potential penalties of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
“The emotional nature of these proceedings also raise the risk of disruption,” Graf said. “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.”
Graf stated that both the defense and prosecution require additional time to complete the discovery process and file motions. The motions will address whether non-evidentiary hearings should continue to be held remotely and whether the court should impose restrictions on camera access during future proceedings, Newsweek reported.
Robinson joined Monday’s virtual hearing from the Utah County Jail, where he remains held without bail. He was not visible on camera and spoke only once, confirming to the judge that he could hear the proceedings.
Graf announced that in-person hearings with Robinson present are scheduled for January 16 and January 30, both at 1 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, at the Utah County Courthouse in Provo.
Robinson is accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, Sept. 10. He faces seven charges, including six felonies: aggravated murder, multiple counts of witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty should Robinson be convicted of the murder charge.
During a briefing last month, FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was still following leads in the case.
“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,” he said.
