A Utah judge has rejected a key request from the defense team representing the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, delivering a setback for the suspect as the high profile case continues to draw national attention.
The ruling came Friday when Tony Graf Jr. declined to restrict public access to court filings connected to the case against Tyler Robinson, the 22 year old charged with killing the conservative activist last year.
Robinson’s defense team had asked the court to seal certain evidence and limit media access ahead of a major evidentiary hearing scheduled for April. Their argument centered on concerns that intense media coverage could poison the jury pool and make it nearly impossible to seat impartial jurors.
But the judge was not persuaded.
“In balance, the defendant has not provided a sufficient basis for the court to find that the interests favoring closure outweigh the interest favoring an open proceeding and the presumptive right to access,” Graf said Friday, per Fox News.
The judge emphasized that courts have long established procedures to protect a defendant’s right to a fair trial even when cases attract massive public attention.
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