Judge sets Charlie Kirk murder trial date for June 2028

Over 3,000 potential jurors are expected to receive questionnaires in advance of the trial.(CN) — The man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk will face trial in mid-2028, a Utah judge ruled Monday.Tyler Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty if convicted of murder in the September 2025 shooting death of the Turning Point USA co-founder at Utah Valley University.The trial, with jury selection scheduled to begin June 21, 2028, is expected to last into October. If convicted, another proceeding must occur to determine if Robinson will be sentenced to death.Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr. picked an option other than those proposed by Robinson or Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow. Kirk requested an October 2027 trial. Robinson asked for a trial starting in July 2029.“Unnecessary delay remains a serious concern,” Graf said, adding: “This order sets a schedule.”Kirk has expressed the hardship she’d face if the trial were delayed, with prosecutors saying they could start in October 2027, if pressed. However, that start date could push trial into the holiday season, the judge said.Graf said Kirk would have the opportunity to speak if Robinson at any point requests the trial be postponed and before he rules on the request.“The family has waited long enough already,” said attorney Jeffrey Neiman, representing Kirk.Robinson has argued he needs a year to process certain forensic evidence. A 2027 trial date would limit his time to gather the evidence, have an expert assess it and provide an opinion on it. Additionally, prosecutors have acknowledged that Robinson must have time to investigate and present mitigating evidence.Graf noted members of Robinson’s defense team have conflicting, unrelated trials at that time as well.Pivoting to Robinson’s trial date request, Graf said he pointed to no task that required another year of preparation. If that changes, he’ll have opportunities to inform the court.Graf detailed a series of hearings scheduled in advance of the June 2028 trial date, starting with January.The judge also could face defense motions seeking to have a jury pool outside of the county, as well as change the venue. Arguments on those issues are expected in December 2027.“News exposure alone is not enough,” Graf said.Activity will accelerate in the months leading up to trial.Attorneys will meet for a trial readiness hearing in April 2028, when they’ll update Graf on any remaining details and the 3,600 questionnaires potential jurors will receive. Those questionnaires are due back in early May 2028. Attorneys will discuss those questionnaires later that month.Once trial begins, jurors are expected to meet from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the workweek. Graf said he set aside 20 days for jury selection and 85 days for the trial itself.Graf setting a trial schedule for Robinson is a major development in the legal proceeding that’s drawn intense media scrutiny because of Kirk’s stature in American politics.Robinson turned himself in to authorities following Kirk death after a gunman shot him during an outdoor Turning Point USA rally.After a lengthy probable cause hearing over the summer, Graf ruled that enough evidence existed to bind the case over to trial.In that hearing, Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride said video evidence showed Robinson on the university campus the day someone fired the fatal shot. There’s also genetic evidence, as Robinson’s DNA is found on what authorities call the murder weapon.There’s also Robinson’s admission to his roommate and lover, as well as to friends on the online platform Discord, the prosecutor said.“’You weren’t the one who did it, right?’” McBride has said Lance Twiggs, Robinson’s roommate, asked over text.“’I am. Sorry,’” McBride said Robinson replied.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads