Charlie Kirk murder: Judge rules cameras allowed in courtroom for Tyler Robinson trial
Tyler Robinson, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in the Fourth District Court on February 3, 2026 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Trent Nelson-Pool/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah - A Utah judge ruled Friday that news outlets will be allowed to film, photograph and livestream the high-profile murder case against Tyler Robinson, the man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
What they're saying:
State District Judge Tony Graf issued the ruling Friday afternoon.
"Defendant's motion is respectfully denied" he said. "Although electronic media coverage is not protected by the Constitution, neither does the Constitution ban electronic media simply because there is a danger that in some cases, prejudicial."
RELATED: Charlie Kirk murder: Suspect Tyler Robinson back in court as his lawyers want cameras banned
Judge allows cameras in Tyler Robinson trial
A Utah judge ruled cameras will be allowed in Tyler Robinson’s murder trial despite defense concerns about jury bias. Media outlets, prosecutors, and the victim’s family supported the decision, citing transparency.
Robinson’s attorneys argued that Robinson cannot get a fair trial with cameras in the court. His attorneys said potential jurors could be biased by slanted stories and online comments that depict the defendant as evil or unremorseful based on how he looks and acts in court. They also argued that live broadcasts of court proceedings and the trial would fuel those stories and impact Robinson's right to a fair trial.
Why you should care:
It’s a victory for media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who all pushed for cameras to be allowed, arguing transparency is the best way to guard against conspiracy theories that have circulated since Kirk's assassination on Sept. 10.
Kirk murder suspect identified as Tyler Robinson
The Charlie Kirk murder suspect was identified as Tyler Robinson. Officials say the suspect acted alone.
The backstory:
Kirk was speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem when investigators say Robinson fired a single shot from a building about 140 yards away, striking Kirk, 31, and killing him. Robinson, 22, is charged with aggravated murder for the killing of Kirk and could face the death penalty if convicted. '
RELATED: Charlie Kirk reportedly shot at Utah college event
Graf had already tightened rules for cameras in court after members of a media pool violated a courtroom order by showing Robinson’s shackles and getting close-ups of him talking to his attorneys. Graf then had cameras moved to the rear of the courtroom, behind Robinson, making it much harder to get images of him.
Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, want cameras allowed. They argue transparency is the best way to guard against conspiracy theories that have circulated since Kirk's assassination on Sept. 10.
Charlie Kirk carried away after being shot at Utah Valley University
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Video taken by a person attending Kirk's event showed the Turning Point USA co-founder being carried away following the shooting. (Credit: Jeremy King via Storyful)
Dig deeper:
Photos and videos have exposed the inner workings of some of America’s most spectacular criminal cases, from the Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial to O.J. Simpson’s double murder trial. They've also created tensions between transparency advocates and defense attorneys eager to shield clients from bad publicity.
The stakes are especially high in death penalty cases such as Robinson's, where a jury can consider the defendant's character as part of its determination. Footage of Robinson apparently smirking while talking to his attorneys during a December hearing elicited comments on Fox News that he was unremorseful and treated Kirk "like a trophy."
The Constitution gives greater weight to a defendant’s rights to a fair trial than the public’s right to know what’s happening in a case. Nevertheless, cameras have become much more common in state courts in recent years.
They are generally barred in federal criminal trials. Under a New York state law, Trump’s trial and 2024 conviction in a hush money case was famously closed to cameras while court was in session. Media organizations used sketch artists to capture the scene.
Judges typically retain broad discretion over which parts of a case can be broadcast and who can be filmed or photographed.
What's next:
Graf also moved the preliminary hearing to July 6 through July 10.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from a combination of courtroom proceedings, including the ruling and comments made by State District Judge Tony Graf, arguments presented by Robinson’s defense attorneys, and positions shared by prosecutors, media organizations, and the victim’s family. This story was reported from Los Angeles.