A judge ruled Monday that the transcript and audio from a previously sealed murder hearing against the man accused of killing political activist Charlie Kirk earlier this year will be released.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder in the shooting of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus, where he was hosting an event in September. According to video and witnesses, Kirk was murdered in broad daylight while he was speaking to a crowd when he was shot and left bleeding profusely.
Kirk was in Utah as part of a tour of college campuses with Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization co-founded by Kirk. Kirk’s murder was described as a political assassination by high-profile politicians, including President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Robinson, who has not yet entered a plea in his case.
District Court Judge Tony Graf said Monday that the court “remained mindful of its duty to balance competing constitutional interests” when arguing about releasing the transcript of a closed-door hearing earlier this year.
Graf ultimately ordered the release of the audio and transcript from the October 24 hearing with some limited redactions. It is up to the court’s discretion whether to seal a record, but Graf also said he understands the public’s right to access.
“After fully considering these arguments, the Court determined that approximately one page of the 246-word, 80-page transcript should be redacted,” Graf ruled.
The transcript should be in court by the end of the day, Graf said, but the audio file of the hearing could take longer.
A separate hearing is expected to be held to decide whether to allow cameras access to Robinson’s hearing.
Robinson’s lawyers want to limit media access to his trial out of concern that continued coverage could taint the jury pool. The Utah County Sheriff’s Office has also supported limited media access to the courthouse.
Lawyers representing media organizations at both the local and national level have argued in a motion filed with the court earlier this month that the First Amendment guarantees access because “courts do public business.”
“Ultimately, every high-profile criminal prosecution has significant pre-trial publicity, no matter where it occurs,” the motion said.
Kirk’s widow, Erica, called for full transparency and said the public is entitled to have cameras placed there.
Robinson’s lawyers asked the court to consider “the realistic possibility of bias” against Robinson.
The state alleges that Robinson targeted Kirk, a polarizing political activist, for his political views. According to an indictment filed in September, Robinson’s family said he was concerned about LGBTQ rights and had texted his roommate that he had “a lot of hatred” in reference to Kirk.
Robinson reportedly said he planned to take his own life in a conversation with his father after Kirk’s death, but was convinced to turn himself in to authorities.
