A Utah judge denied efforts by media organizations to intervene as a limited party in the murder trial of accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson, as media access remains a key pretrial issue in the case.
Judge Tony Graf ruled on a pair of motions during a remote hearing on Monday to release a transcript and audio from a closed-door October court hearing, as well as whether to allow two different groups of media outlets to gain increased access to the trial by intervening as limited parties, weeks after hearing arguments on the matters. Graf allowed a redacted version of the October transcript to be released, but denied the media groups’ request to join the case as limited parties so they could raise concerns over media access to the trial.
“Two groups of media outlets seek to intervene in this matter. Only the state and the defendant, however, are actual parties to a criminal action. The press need not be a party to a criminal action to pursue the public’s presumptive right to access public court records,” Graf said.
The media groups previously argued they should be allowed to be a limited party to argue against closing hearings to the public, after both Robinson’s lawyers and the state’s lawyers have pushed for cameras to be banned from hearings. The two media groups wanted notice of when efforts were being made to close court hearings or make documents private.
Graf pointed to court procedures that media outlets may use to challenge obstacles to media access, adding that granting the media groups’ bids to intervene would be unnecessary. The judge also said he would allow for the release of the transcripts and audio recording from a closed-door October hearing, with redactions mainly pertaining to security measures.
“Openness and transparency are foundational to our judicial system and essential to maintaining public confidence. At the same time, the public’s right to access is qualified, not absolute, and may be limited when a legally sufficient justification exists. The court recognizes the substantial public interest in these proceedings and has approached its review with that interest firmly in mind,” Graf said.
Robinson did not appear on video during the virtual hearing but was present at the online proceeding via audio only from a Utah County jail. He appeared in person during the last hearing before Graf earlier this month, and is expected to appear at the next court hearing on Jan. 16.
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Robinson faces multiple charges for his alleged assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus in September. The maximum punishment for the charges levied against Robinson includes the death penalty.
The trial of Robinson is expected to be one of the most closely watched cases in 2026, but the proceedings could unfold without video of the trial being broadcast outside the courtroom. Graf will decide whether video cameras are allowed in the courtroom during the trial early next year.