In a hearing held on September 1, 2026, the court held the final preliminary hearing for Tyler James Robinson, who is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. The proceedings included closing arguments and legal debates regarding media access to the courtroom.
Judge Tony Graf addressed several pretrial matters during the session, including the defendant's motion to classify certain unredacted filings as protected. The defense argued that publishing specific links to online prediction and betting markets, such as Polymarket, could influence markets and jeopardize the integrity of the jury pool. However, the court denied the motion to classify, ruling that the information is already widely available on the internet and that the public interest in access outweighs the defendant's concerns.
The court also issued rulings regarding electronic media coverage. KUTV was granted permission to live-stream the September 1 oral arguments but was denied a request for a separate still photographer. The Salt Lake Tribune was permitted to provide still photography via a single stationary photographer. The judge implemented strict decorum and privacy measures, prohibiting the filming of confidential attorney-client communications and the faces of minors or jurors.
The defendant faces charges of aggravated murder, a capital offense for which the state of Utah is seeking the death penalty. During the hearing, the prosecution presented arguments including video evidence showing the defendant arriving at the scene in a gray Dodge Challenger and scouting the campus prior to the incident.
The court scheduled a recess to weigh the oral arguments before issuing a bind over decision on each count. The court noted that the decision would balance the constitutional rights of the parties involved.
