Robinson team cites Trump post in camera bid

Attorneys for Tyler Robinson submitted a new request on Tuesday to block news cameras from the courtroom during a scheduling hearing set for November 9. The defense team argued that a recent post by President Donald Trump on Truth Social increases the likelihood that the potential jury pool will view their client with bias before the trial begins.

Robinson, 23, faces charges of assassinating Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. His legal team has repeatedly objected to the presence of video and still photography in the courtroom. They have asked Judge Tony Graf Jr. to restrict media access, but the judge has not yet granted a full ban on camera coverage.

The latest filing references a Truth Social post published by Trump in late October. The president criticized the judge’s handling of the case after Robinson’s lawyers suggested a trial date for the third quarter of 2029. Trump wrote, "The judge in the Charlie Kirk case is doing a terrible job!" He added that the case should be tried within a month and that the judge was "desecrating the memory of the Great Charlie Kirk."

The defense lawyers stated that electronic media coverage threatens Robinson’s right to an impartial jury. They claimed that cameras create an unnecessary risk of out-of-context statements spreading publicly. They noted that such dissemination provides ammunition for public commentary, which risks exerting undue pressure on the proceedings. The attorneys argued that even still photography carries the same risks of prejudicial interpretation.

The upcoming November 9 hearing is a procedural session. It will not include witness testimony or the presentation of evidence. Robinson’s lawyers emphasized that any scheduling order will be publicly accessible. They noted that the proceeding will remain open to the press, who may attend and report on the event without the need for camera access.

The defense also renewed its objection to the court’s current procedure for adjudicating camera requests. They argued that the existing process does not allow witnesses to address privacy or security concerns. Utah County prosecutors previously indicated a preferred trial date of January 31, 2028, while stating they could be ready in October 2027. Robinson’s team has proposed late 2029 as a soft target for trial.

Judge Graf Jr. is expected to address the timing of the trial at the Monday hearing. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the president’s social media post.