A Utah judge weighed arguments Tuesday on sealing certain evidence and closing portions of a key hearing in the Charlie Kirk murder case.
Judge Tony Graf Jr. considered motions to block the media from parts of the preliminary hearing set for July and to hold a state prosecutor in contempt.
Tyler Robinson, 23, attended Tuesday’s hearing.
Robinson has been accused of assassinating Kirk, a conservative activist, during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September 2025.
Robinson’s defense team wants to keep some of the upcoming hearing private, arguing that broadcasts of such proceedings create a media frenzy and could create bias for potential jurors, while also possibly misrepresenting Robinson.
Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander said the prosecution supports transparency in the court.
“The state has tried to make it abundantly clear, throughout this process, that we favor open hearings, so that the public can trust what happens in this courtroom,” he stated.
Prosecutors during the upcoming preliminary hearing are set to show they have enough evidence against him to proceed to trial.
Tuesday’s hearing comes after the defense’s request to ban cameras from court was rejected.
Graf also considered the defense’s motion to hold one of the prosecutors in contempt.
Richard Novak, Robinson’s attorney, urged the judge to punish attorney Christopher Ballard over comments he made outside of court.
Novak accused Ballard of going on a “media tour” in which he made “expressions of opinion as to Mr. Robinson’s guilt.”
In response, prosecutors said that Ballard had a right to speak to the media to correct misinformation about an inconclusive, preliminary finding by ballistics experts, which led to speculation about Robinson’s possible exoneration.
“Here he was representing the true nature of that report,” and did not make a statement of opinion about guilt, Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride said.
The judge is expected to issue rulings on both matters June 1.
Robinson has been charged with one count of aggravated murder with the victim targeting enhancement, one count of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of obstruction of justice with capital or first-degree felony conduct.
He has not yet entered a plea.
Robinson's next in-person hearing has been set for June 12.