Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf has granted a motion allowing Tyler Robinson to wear civilian clothing during court appearances as his trial moves forward.
Robinson is accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, last month.
Graf ruled that the defendant “shall be dressed as one who is presumed innocent” during pretrial hearings. However, he denied Robinson’s request to appear without restraints, citing security concerns.
The judge also prohibited media outlets from photographing or filming Robinson’s restraints, as well as from capturing images of the 22-year-old entering or exiting the courtroom, Newsweek reported.
Kirk was fatally shot on September 10 at Utah Valley University while participating in a debate with students. A prominent figure in conservative politics, he was widely recognized for his efforts to engage young voters and was a close ally of former President Donald Trump.
Robinson faces multiple charges in connection with Kirk’s killing, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to pursue the death penalty in the case.
“This is a high-profile case with strong public interest,” Graf said during the hearing, per Newsweek.
Robinson participated in the hearing remotely and did not appear on camera, but confirmed to the judge that he could hear the proceedings. Last week, prosecutors and defense attorneys met in a closed-door session to address several issues, including the defense’s request for Robinson to appear in civilian clothing and without restraints.
Defense attorneys argued that repeatedly showing Robinson in jail attire could create bias among the public and potential jurors. Prosecutors opposed the motion, citing security concerns and the need for clear identification of the defendant during court proceedings.
