OREM, UT—A Utah judge’s repeated decision to hold remote and off-camera hearings for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, is drawing criticism from legal experts concerned about a lack of transparency in the high-profile case.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Robinson, 22, has not been seen publicly since his initial court appearance following the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University. Legal analysts are cautioning that limiting the public’s view of the accused—whose voice was heard over a monitor during remote appearances—could erode trust in the judicial process.
“If the public can’t see who’s speaking in a courtroom, that’s a serious transparency issue,” said one legal expert. “Justice has to be seen to be believed.”
Key Rulings on Defendant’s Rights
Presiding Judge Tony Graf has been attempting to balance public access with Robinson’s right to a fair trial, resulting in several notable rulings:
- Civilian Clothes: Judge Graf granted a defense motion allowing Robinson to wear civilian clothes at all future court appearances, emphasizing the need to maintain the presumption of innocence before a jury.
- Restraints: The judge denied a request to remove physical restraints for safety reasons, but he prohibited news photographers from taking pictures of them or showing Robinson entering and exiting the courtroom.
- Virtual Hearings: While the next in-person preliminary hearing has been postponed until January for discovery, prosecutors have requested that all future non-evidentiary hearings be held virtually, a motion Judge Graf has yet to rule on.
Criminal defense attorneys have commented that the extraordinary efforts to manage Robinson’s public perception—including not showing him in custody or in jail attire—reflect an intense judicial caution intended to prevent an unfair trial appeal later. However, experts warn that keeping the defendant out of public sight for too long risks fueling conspiracy theories due to a lack of verifiable information.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea on the aggravated murder charge, for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
