Judge Orders Transcripts, Audio To Be Made Public From Hearing For Accused Charlie Kirk Assassin

Transcripts and audio from the October 24 hearing for suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson will be made public after a Monday ruling from the Utah judge overseeing the murder case.

District Court Judge Tony Graf gave the court until the end of the day to release the transcript from a brief closed-door hearing that focused on whether Robinson, 22, could remain in civilian clothing and unshackled for the trial. The audio from the hearing must be released within two weeks. Graf added that 246 words, which amounts to one page of the 80-page transcript, would be redacted, NBC News reported.

Robinson was present for Monday’s hearing virtually and did not appear on screen. He was heard saying, “Yes, your honor,” when the judge asked if he was present, the New York Post reported.

The ruling is another win for reporters in the pretrial arguments, as media outlets have pushed for full transparency in the case. Monday’s decision follows a separate ruling earlier this month from Graf to allow cameras in the courtroom during the trial. Kirk’s widow, Erika — along with members of the media — has pushed for the trial to be made as public as possible, while Robinson’s defense team has argued that wall-to-wall coverage could taint the jury pool.

“There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered,” Erika Kirk said. “There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there. … Let everyone see what true evil is.”

Attorneys for local and national media outlets argued in a motion earlier this month that “every high-profile criminal prosecution has significant pretrial publicity, no matter where it occurs” and that the First Amendment guarantees the media access to the courts doing “the public’s business,” according to NBC News.

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In the October 24 closed-door hearing, Graf said that Robinson could wear civilian clothing for the trial, but added that the suspected assassin would have to be restrained in court. In his first virtual court appearance after his arrest, Robinson was in a suicide vest. He was also placed on “special watch” in jail after reportedly telling his parents that he would rather kill himself than turn himself over to law enforcement.

Robinson faces numerous charges, including seven felony charges of aggravated murder in the killing of Kirk, a 31-year-old husband and father of two, on September 10 at Utah Valley University. He’s accused of killing Kirk with a single shot from a bolt-action rifle while the conservative commentator spoke to a large group of students. Robinson told his parents that he killed Kirk because he believed Kirk “spread too much hate,” according to charging documents. The suspected assassin could face a firing squad if he’s convicted of the aggravated murder charge.

Robinson is due back in court on January 16 for a major hearing on a motion to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case over an alleged conflict of interest. Robinson’s defense team argues that a family member of a Utah County prosecutor was present at Utah Valley University when Kirk was assassinated.