Judge sets 2028 date for Kirk murder trial

Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf scheduled the trial of Tyler Robinson for the summer of 2028. The 23-year-old defendant is accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Graf announced the decision on Monday, setting June 21, 2028, as the start date for jury selection.

Robinson pleaded not guilty last year to aggravated murder and six related offenses. He turned himself in a day after shooting Kirk while the activist addressed a crowd of several thousand people at Utah Valley University. If convicted, Robinson remains eligible for the death penalty.

Graf outlined a schedule that includes monthly pre-trial status conferences. The judge stated that these meetings will protect the constitutional rights of Robinson and Erika Kirk, the victim's widow. In a written order, Graf emphasized the need to treat both parties with dignity while safeguarding the Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.

The judge reserved 105 court days for the trial proceedings. Graf noted that both legal teams require time to review a massive volume of evidence. This material includes tens of thousands of files, approximately eight million digital artifacts, and about 3.3 terabytes of data. The timeline also accounts for the thorough vetting required for jury and setting selection.

The prosecution and defense proposed different start dates. Utah County prosecutors initially expected a 17-week trial and indicated they would be ready by October 2027. They proposed a start date of January 31, 2028, to avoid the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods. In contrast, Robinson's defense attorneys requested a trial in 2029, arguing they needed more time to sift through the extensive files provided by prosecutors.

Attorneys for Erika Kirk pushed back against the defense's proposed 2029 schedule. They described that timeline as absurd and suggested the defense was attempting to delay proceedings rather than prepare effectively. At the end of Monday's hearing, Jeffrey Neiman, an attorney for the Kirk family, stated that the family would accept the 2028 date. He implored the court to adhere strictly to the schedule to prevent further delays.

Neiman acknowledged that a trial in the summer of 2028, three years after the assassination, does not feel particularly swift to the family. He added that the family has waited long enough and should not be forced to wait any longer for a resolution.