Judge rules that transcript of Charlie Kirk killer's hearing be made public

· UPI

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A transcript and audio recording of a closed-door hearing in the trial of Charlie Kirk's killer will be made public, with some redactions, a Utah judge ruled on Monday.

Although there are minor concerns about security during the trial, 4th District Judge Tony Graf ordered that records of the hearing be released, rejecting privacy and other concerns that defense attorneys raised about making the transcript public, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Court proceedings in the hearing had been closed after both the prosecution and defense asked for it to be held in private, and later asked that the transcript and audio not be released to the media.

"If this information poses a risk of violated defendant's right to a fair trial, defendant's first line of defense is found in the rules of evidence in the criminal procedure," Graf ruled, according to The Hill.

Related

During the 20-minute hearing, Graf said the transcript would be released by the end of the day -- and it was -- but noted that it could take a couple of weeks for the recording to be released.

The hearing, held on October 24 via audio, regarded whether Tyler Robinson, 22, would be permitted to wear civilian clothes in court appearances and whether he was required to be shackled during those appearances.

Robinson faces charges for the Sept. 10 shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk while he was holding an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, University.

His attorneys argued that if Robinson appeared at pre-trial hearings in jail clothes and be shackled it could taint the jury pool for the trial, the New York Post reported.

Graf, who said at the time that Robinson could appear in non-jail clothes but would have to be shackled to maintain safety in the court.

Defense attorneys also had sought to have the media be largely excluded from closed door hearings and sealed documents, but Graf also denied that request after several media outlets, as well as Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, requested greater transparency in the trial.

Although Graf said he will not allow reporters to take pictures or video of Robinson's shackles, he denied requests to shield as much information about the trial from public as possible.

Charlie Kirk memorial service held in Arizona

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk, speaks during his memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on September 21, 2025. Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University while speaking at an event on campus on September 10. Photo by Eduardo Barraza/UPI | License Photo