Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson seen grinning and chuckling during first in-person court appearance

Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, was seen smirking and laughing with his lawyers in court on Thursday as he made his first in-person appearance. The charges filed against Robinson include aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

While waiting for the judge to come into the Utah courtroom, Robinson, who wore a button-up shirt and tie, was seen whispering with his attorneys, occasionally laughing and smiling. His attorneys laughed too. Robinson was granted permission by the judge to wear civilian clothing during his court appearances instead of prison clothing, as Robinson’s attorneys argued that he would not get a fair trial if he appeared in prison clothing. He was shackled.

Judge Tony Graf began Thursday’s hearing by outlining what he would address: the audio recording of an October 14 closed hearing and the transcript of an October 24 hearing and what should or should not be sealed or protected, the "state’s motion to amend or clarify the publicity order, commonly known or referred to as the gag order," and the "motion for limited intervention and request for notice of motions to close, steal, or reclassify, and which has been filed by the media organizations and by council who are present today." He said that after hearing arguments on all three matters and a brief recess, he would rule on the matters today.

The first portion of the hearing, regarding the audio and transcript, were held in a closed session, with the public and the press not being allowed in the courtroom. The defense requested that Tyler Robinson’s parents and brother be allowed to stay for the closed session, but Judge Graf ruled against it.