A Utah judge has scheduled a summer 2028 trial for Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September 2025. District Judge Tony Graf allocated 105 days for proceedings beginning with jury selection on June 21, 2028, rejecting defense requests for a 2029 start and prosecution proposals for January 2028.
The ruling came after pressure from Kirk's family and supporters, including President Donald Trump, to expedite a case that has already lasted more than a year. Trump had urged on social media that Robinson be tried "within a month" and criticized Graf for delays. Prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk for his political beliefs, citing a bullet engraved with "Hey Facist! CATCH!" and a text message stating, "I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out."
Erika Kirk's attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, had argued for an October 2027 trial start. After Monday's hearing, he said a 2028 trial "does not feel very speedy to the Kirk family." The Kirk family released a statement calling the schedule a "delay" and saying "every additional day without justice prolongs our family's pain."
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. His defense team said they must review tens of thousands of files from prosecutors and plan extensive investigations into mitigating factors for sentencing, as well as devote substantial time to jury selection. Robinson turned himself in a day after the shooting, and his lawyers have not offered alternative theories for Kirk's death.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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