Lawyers for suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson ask for cameras to be banned from courtroom

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged with the murder of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in Utah, are asking that a judge not allow cameras into the courtroom while the trial commences. The judge has ruled that Robinson can appear in civilian clothing while shackled in the courtroom, and that footage cannot be taken of Robinson being shackled as he exits and enters the court.

On Monday, Fourth District Judge Tony Graf ruled that cameras will not be permitted to film his entrances and exits from the court while he is shackled, but there has not been a ruling to determine if there will be a total ban in the courtroom while the trial takes place.

The defense has argued that the attention to the case has made the murder case into a “content tornado” and argued, “The Court thus has ample authority to restrict the media in this case and should prohibit any further still camera, photography, or video coverage of any proceedings ‘[t]o safeguard the due process rights of’” Robinson. This, the lawyers claimed, will “minimize the effects of prejudicial pretrial publicity.”

There was a hearing set to take place on Thursday this week, but it was vacated. Graf wrote on Monday that there needs to be a "complete discovery and to file motions addressing whether non evidentiary hearings should be conducted virtually, and whether to impose any blanket restrictions on cameras in the courtroom, and any other motions that may arise."

“If the state wishes to have all non-evidentiary hearings conducted via Webex, it must file a separate motion,” Graf added in. “If the parties seek to limit or restrict electronic media coverage, they may file a joint motion.”

Robinson was arrested in September and charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University after the TPUSA founder and political commentator was shot in the neck in broad daylight as he was engaging in debate with college students.

Evidence in the case has suggested that Robinson admitted to the murder over text as well as to his family, according to testimony from his family members and portions of a text exchange between him and his trans roommate he was in a romantic relationship with.

Bullet casings that were found at the scene had Antifa-linked phrases inscribed on them. Utah Governor Spencer Cox has said that the suspect was deeply involved in leftist ideology and Robinson’s family members also helped turn him in after they saw footage and pictures of him released to the public. Robinson reportedly threatened suicide rather than turn himself in for the murder of Kirk.

Robinson Lawyers Filing