A Utah judge ruled Monday that the transcript and audio recording of a previously closed-door hearing in the criminal case against the man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk must be made public, with limited redactions, marking a win for transparency amid an intensely scrutinized prosecution.
Judge Tony Graf issued the decision during a remote hearing, saying he expected a redacted transcript to be released by the end of the day Monday.
The audio recording will also be made public, though only after redactions are completed, a process Graf said could take roughly two weeks.
The materials stem from an Oct. 24 hearing focused on whether the defendant, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, could appear in court wearing plain clothes and without restraints.
Robinson is accused of killing Kirk during a speaking event in Utah. After that hearing, Graf ruled that Robinson would be allowed to wear civilian clothing instead of jail attire, but would remain shackled.
In his ruling Monday, Graf said redactions would be limited primarily to discussions involving courtroom security measures. He rejected broader requests from the defense to withhold additional information, explaining that much of what Robinson’s attorneys sought to keep sealed is already publicly available through charging documents or has otherwise entered the public record.
“If this information poses a risk of violating defendant’s right to a fair trial, defendant’s first line of defense is found in the rules of evidence in criminal procedure,” Graf said, signaling that transparency alone does not compromise due process.
Graf also denied a defense request that would have required the court to treat the media as a limited party in the case, including providing advance notice of closed hearings or sealed filings.
While rejecting that proposal, the judge noted that the court and parties are still obligated to notify the public in certain circumstances, maintaining a balance between openness and courtroom order.
Robinson’s legal team has argued that extensive media attention, combined with cameras in the courtroom, could prejudice potential jurors and threaten his right to a fair trial. Media organizations, along with Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, have pushed back, arguing that public access is essential given the gravity of the case and the public interest surrounding the killing.
Utah prosecutors charged Robinson with aggravated murder and six additional counts following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10. Kirk was shot once in the neck while delivering a talk at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Investigators later recovered bullet casings bearing engraved messages that appeared to reference internet meme culture and antifascist themes.
Court filings also describe alleged conversations between Robinson and his roommate, with whom he was reportedly in a romantic relationship, in which Robinson discussed the need to recover a rifle. Those details have added to the case’s notoriety and fueled calls for full public transparency.
The state has announced it intends to seek the death penalty. President Donald Trump publicly called for capital punishment in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing, though Utah County Attorney General Jeff Gray, a Republican, said the decision to pursue the death penalty was made independently by prosecutors, not as a political response.
Graf scheduled Robinson’s next court appearance for Jan. 16, as the case continues to move forward under intense public scrutiny. The release of the redacted transcript and audio is expected to provide further insight into the proceedings, even as the court works to safeguard both security concerns and the defendant’s legal rights.
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