Charlie Kirk murder case: Trial date set for June 21, 2028
Judge Tony Graf rejected defense requests for a 2029 start, citing pressure from the victim's family and President Trump to expedite proceedings.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk will stand trial starting June 21, 2028. District Judge Tony Graf in Utah County issued the ruling Monday, setting a 105-day window for the proceedings. This schedule requires jurors to be selected in late June, pushing the trial into the summer of 2028.
Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, 23, had proposed a start date in 2029. The judge rejected that timeline, balancing Robinson's right to prepare a defense against the interests of Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, who seeks a faster resolution. Robinson pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder. He faces the death penalty if convicted.
Kirk was 31 when he was shot on September 10, 2025. He was speaking to several thousand people at Utah Valley University at the time of the attack. The defense team declined to comment on the new schedule after the hearing concluded.
Erika Kirk's attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, expressed dissatisfaction with the timeline during the hearing. He argued the case should have started the following October. Neiman stated that a trial three years after the assassination does not feel speedy to the family. The Kirk family issued a statement calling the decision a delay, noting that every additional day without justice prolongs their pain.
President Donald Trump weighed in on the case last month via social media. He argued Robinson should be tried within one month. Trump criticized Graf, a former prosecutor appointed last year, for taking too long to ask questions that people already know the answer to. Trump had helped galvanize young voters for the 2024 election campaign.
Prosecutors alleged Robinson targeted Kirk for his political beliefs. They presented a bullet from the rifle engraved with the words "Hey Facist! CATCH!". They also cited a text message from Robinson saying, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out." The defense must review tens of thousands of files from the prosecution. They plan to investigate mitigating factors in Robinson's life.
Defense attorneys will conduct surveys to determine if an impartial jury can be seated in Utah County. They may request a change of venue based on the results. Judge Graf scheduled arguments on venue for next December.
