Man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk pushes to ban cameras from court

Tyler Robinson claims biased media coverage is tainting potential jurors in his aggravated murder case.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:54pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bullet casing against a stark black background, conveying the gritty, investigative nature of the forensic evidence in this violent crime case.Forensic evidence in the high-profile case against the accused killer of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is under intense scrutiny as the defense fights to limit media access.Provo Today

The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk wants a judge to ban cameras from the courtroom, claiming live broadcasts of the prosecution are violating his right to a fair trial. Tyler Robinson was back in state court in Utah on Friday as his attorneys asked to delay his May preliminary hearing and pressed their claims that biased coverage is tainting potential jurors in his aggravated murder case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions around media access and transparency in high-profile criminal trials, especially when the defendant claims the coverage is unfairly biased against them. The judge must balance the public's right to information with the defendant's right to a fair trial.

The details

Robinson's attorneys cited numerous examples of what they say is biased coverage, including a New York Post story that suggested Robinson confessed to Kirk's killing during a courtroom conversation. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted in the September 10 shooting of Kirk, who was addressing a crowd of thousands on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem. Robinson has not yet entered a plea, and a trial date has not been set.

  • On December 11, Robinson allegedly made a courtroom confession that was reported by the New York Post.
  • On September 10, Kirk was shot and killed while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University.
  • In May, a preliminary hearing is scheduled for prosecutors to show they have enough evidence to proceed to trial.

The players

Tyler Robinson

The 23-year-old man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He has not yet entered a plea and is seeking to have cameras banned from his trial.

Charlie Kirk

The conservative activist who was shot and killed on September 10 while addressing a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University.

Erika Kirk

The widow of Charlie Kirk, who wants the court to allow cameras to ensure transparency in the proceedings.

Judge Tony Graf

The judge presiding over the case who has had to address violations of his decorum order regarding camera coverage of the proceedings.

Mike Judd

A lawyer representing a coalition of media organizations, including The Associated Press, that are fighting to preserve access to the court proceedings.

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What they’re saying

“The predominant purpose being served by the live stream coverage has not been the educational reporting of the court proceedings, but rather advertising profit, sensationalism, political agendas, and, most prominently, the vilification of Mr. Robinson.”

— Tyler Robinson's attorneys

“The court can do all of that in order to try to control what gets fed into that media ecosystem. You reduce the likelihood of somebody publishing things that you think may be of potentially biasing concern later on.”

— Mike Judd, Lawyer for media coalition

“Justice delayed is justice denied.”

— Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride

What’s next

The judge will rule on whether to delay the May preliminary hearing and whether to ban cameras from the courtroom.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing media access and transparency with a defendant's right to a fair trial, especially in high-profile cases where biased coverage could unfairly influence potential jurors.