Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, are once again seeking to prohibit cameras from an upcoming Utah court hearing. This latest effort cites a recent Truth Social post by former President Donald Trump, which they argue heightens the risk of prejudicing the potential jury pool against their client.
Robinson's legal team has consistently objected to the presence of cameras in the courtroom, but their previous attempts to have them banned have been unsuccessful. With Robinson due back in court, his lawyers are now leveraging a late October post from Trump.
In the post, Trump criticized the judge overseeing the case, writing, "The judge in the Charlie Kirk case is doing a terrible job! This case should be tried within a month, not three years — and it should be over with! The judge is desecrating the memory of the Great Charlie Kirk, while taking forever to ask questions that people already know the answer to. The whole Country is mocking him and our 'Legal' System. JUSTICE FOR CHARLIE!"
Robinson's attorneys contend that Trump's statement "only heightens the prejudicial impact of electronic media coverage at the November 9 hearing." They claim that cameras "create an unnecessary risk" that statements made in court could be disseminated without proper context, providing "ammunition for public commentary, including by politicians, that risks exerting undue pressure on the proceedings." They also stated that "Even still photography creates risks of prejudicial dissemination and out-of-context interpretation."
The defense team reiterated their standing objection to the court's procedure for challenging cameras and claimed that "continuing electronic media coverage threatens Mr. Robinson's rights to a fair trial by an impartial jury by perpetuating bias in the public against Mr. Robinson."
Robinson is accused of fatally shooting Kirk, 31, at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10, 2025, during a Turning Point USA event. Prosecutors had proposed January 31, 2028, as a preferred trial date, though they noted readiness for October 2027. The defense has suggested a trial date in late 2029.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. is scheduled to address trial timing at the upcoming hearing, which is not expected to include the presentation of evidence or witness testimony. Robinson's lawyers noted that the scheduling order will be publicly accessible and the proceeding will remain open to the press.