Judge refuses to restrict public access to evidence in Charlie Kirk assassination case
Ask why this angle was chosen.
A Utah judge on Friday rejected an attempt by the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk to keep key court filings secret, while leaving open the possibility that portions of an upcoming hearing could be closed to the public.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled from the bench that attorneys for Tyler Robinson failed to justify sealing a defense motion seeking to bar cameras and other media coverage from the courtroom. Friday’s hearing centered on whether the defense’s written motion to exclude cameras, which the court had previously classified as a private document, should remain sealed from the public.
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf speaks during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, on Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz /The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Graf ruled the defense had not met the legal threshold to keep the motion confidential.
TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE’S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES
Even so, the judge said he will continue “balancing all the factors” in deciding whether some portions of the next hearing could be closed to the media.
The decision sets the stage for an April 17 hearing where Robinson’s attorneys will formally argue that cameras, microphones, and photographers should be barred from the courtroom because extensive publicity surrounding the case could prejudice potential jurors.
Defense attorney Staci Visser told the court the defense is not attempting to litigate the case in the public arena.
Defense attorney Staci Visser, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
“There seems to be an idea that flooding the public sphere with information from this courtroom will somehow dispel conspiracy theories or shift public narratives,” Visser said. “That, in and of itself, is concerning to the defense. All we should be worried about is protecting what happens in this courtroom.”
W. JAMES ANTLE: OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS: HOW TRUMP CAN AVOID ‘FOREVER WAR’ IN IRAN
Robinson’s legal team argued the hearing will likely involve discussion of prejudicial pretrial publicity, including references to evidence that has not yet been admitted in court, alleged confessions, and public commentary about …
Ask why this angle was chosen.
A Utah judge on Friday rejected an attempt by the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk to keep key court filings secret, while leaving open the possibility that portions of an upcoming hearing could be closed to the public.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled from the bench that attorneys for Tyler Robinson failed to justify sealing a defense motion seeking to bar cameras and other media coverage from the courtroom. Friday’s hearing centered on whether the defense’s written motion to exclude cameras, which the court had previously classified as a private document, should remain sealed from the public.
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf speaks during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, on Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz /The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Graf ruled the defense had not met the legal threshold to keep the motion confidential.
TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE’S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES
Even so, the judge said he will continue “balancing all the factors” in deciding whether some portions of the next hearing could be closed to the media.
The decision sets the stage for an April 17 hearing where Robinson’s attorneys will formally argue that cameras, microphones, and photographers should be barred from the courtroom because extensive publicity surrounding the case could prejudice potential jurors.
Defense attorney Staci Visser told the court the defense is not attempting to litigate the case in the public arena.
Defense attorney Staci Visser, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
“There seems to be an idea that flooding the public sphere with information from this courtroom will somehow dispel conspiracy theories or shift public narratives,” Visser said. “That, in and of itself, is concerning to the defense. All we should be worried about is protecting what happens in this courtroom.”
W. JAMES ANTLE: OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS: HOW TRUMP CAN AVOID ‘FOREVER WAR’ IN IRAN
Robinson’s legal team argued the hearing will likely involve discussion of prejudicial pretrial publicity, including references to evidence that has not yet been admitted in court, alleged confessions, and public commentary about …
Judge refuses to restrict public access to evidence in Charlie Kirk assassination case
Ask why this angle was chosen.
A Utah judge on Friday rejected an attempt by the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk to keep key court filings secret, while leaving open the possibility that portions of an upcoming hearing could be closed to the public.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. ruled from the bench that attorneys for Tyler Robinson failed to justify sealing a defense motion seeking to bar cameras and other media coverage from the courtroom. Friday’s hearing centered on whether the defense’s written motion to exclude cameras, which the court had previously classified as a private document, should remain sealed from the public.
Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf speaks during a hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, in 4th District Court, on Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz /The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
Graf ruled the defense had not met the legal threshold to keep the motion confidential.
TRUMP ENDORSEMENT TRACKER: HERE’S WHO THE PRESIDENT HAS PICKED IN GOP MIDTERM ELECTION PRIMARIES
Even so, the judge said he will continue “balancing all the factors” in deciding whether some portions of the next hearing could be closed to the media.
The decision sets the stage for an April 17 hearing where Robinson’s attorneys will formally argue that cameras, microphones, and photographers should be barred from the courtroom because extensive publicity surrounding the case could prejudice potential jurors.
Defense attorney Staci Visser told the court the defense is not attempting to litigate the case in the public arena.
Defense attorney Staci Visser, left, and defendant Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, attend a hearing in 4th District Court, Friday, March. 13, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP, Pool)
“There seems to be an idea that flooding the public sphere with information from this courtroom will somehow dispel conspiracy theories or shift public narratives,” Visser said. “That, in and of itself, is concerning to the defense. All we should be worried about is protecting what happens in this courtroom.”
W. JAMES ANTLE: OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS: HOW TRUMP CAN AVOID ‘FOREVER WAR’ IN IRAN
Robinson’s legal team argued the hearing will likely involve discussion of prejudicial pretrial publicity, including references to evidence that has not yet been admitted in court, alleged confessions, and public commentary about …
0 Comments
0 Shares
54 Views
0 Reviews
