By Joseph Pisani
News outlets will be allowed to film and photograph the murder trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a Utah judge said Friday.
Lawyers for Robinson had asked the court in March to ban cameras and microphones, arguing that broadcasting and livestreaming the case could affect the opinions of potential jurors and hurt their client's chance at a fair trial.
"Defendant's motion is respectfully denied," Judge Tony Graf said during a hearing Friday.
Robinson, 23 years old, faces numerous charges related to Kirk's killing, including aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm. Robinson hasn't entered a plea. Prosecutors have said they would seek the death penalty.
Media outlets and prosecutors opposed the push from Robinson's defense team to ban cameras in the courtroom, saying access was needed for transparency. Cameras are generally allowed in Utah state courts.
Kirk was fatally shot in September while speaking at an outdoor debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The debate was part of a campus tour for Turning Point USA, the conservative organization for young people that Kirk co-founded.
Graf on Friday pushed back the date for a preliminary hearing, moving it to July at the request of Robinson's lawyers, who said they needed more time to prepare.
Write to Joseph Pisani at joseph.pisani@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 08, 2026 18:29 ET (22:29 GMT)
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