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22-year-old Utah man charged with murder charlie kirk made his first individual appearance court appearance His lawyers on Thursday are pushing to further limit media access to the high-profile criminal case.
A Utah judge is weighing in publichave the right to know the details of prosecution Tyler Robinson pleaded guilty against his lawyers’ concerns that media attention might interfere with his right to a fair trial.
Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to impose sanctions camera In the courtroom.
Prosecutors have accused Robinson of shooting and killing the conservative activist on Sept. 10 on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, just a few miles north of Provo. courtThey plan to seek the death penalty,
Robinson arrived at court with restraints on his wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks. He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother was in tears as she wiped her eyes with a tissue. Robinson’s father and brother sat next to him.
The defendant previously appeared in court through video or audio feed from jail.
A coalition of national and local news organizations, including the Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access to the case.
Graf agreed to defend the presumption of Robinson’s innocence even before the trial, noting that the case had attracted “extraordinary” public attention.
graph stopped hearing on October 24 in which lawyers discussed Robinson’s court attire and security protocols. Under the judge’s subsequent ruling, Robinson is allowed to wear street clothes in court during pre-trial hearings, but must be physically restrained due to safety concerns. Graf also barred the media from filming or taking photographs of Robinson’s restraints, as his lawyers argued that extensive photographs of him in prison clothes and shackles could prejudicially influence future jurors.
Media Coalition attorney Michael Judd has urged Graf to allow news organizations to consider any requests for closed hearings or other limitations in the future.
Media attendance at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating a photographer and a videographer to document hearings and share their photos with other news organizations. Additional journalists may usually be present to listen and take notes, as well as members of the public.
Judd wrote in a recent filing that an open court “protects the integrity of the fact-finding process” while promoting public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the US have long been open to the public, he argued, which is proof that journalists can be heard fairly without being restricted as they work to keep the public informed.
Kirk’s widow, Erica Kirk, called for full transparency, saying, “We are entitled to put cameras in there.”
Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to sway young voters toward conservatism.
Robinson’s legal team says their pre-trial campaigning has reached all the way to the White House, with Trump declaring shortly after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I expect he will get the death penalty.”
Attorney Kathy Nestor has expressed concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson’s initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images showed Robinson crying or getting angry in court, which did not happen.