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The man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk made his first in-person court
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appearance Thursday in Utah and the battle over media access is now front and center
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22-year-old Tyler Robinson sat with his attorneys wearing a dress shirt and tie
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still in wrist and ankle restraints the judge says must stay on. Cameras caught him smiling
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toward family members in the front row, his mother wiping away tears as he walked in
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Security was noticeably tight, according to the Salt Lake City Tribune. Nine sheriff's jeopardy ring the courtroom
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Judge Tony Graff is now deciding how much of this case the public should actually see
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Robinson's attorneys and the sheriff's office want all cameras banned, arguing the intense media attention threatens his right to a fair trial
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Prosecutors have charged Robinson with aggravated murder in the September shooting of Charlie Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus
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and they do plan to seek the death penalty. Kirk's widow, Erica Kirk, is pushing back, calling for full transparency, saying, quote
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we deserve to have cameras in there. Media organizations are also fighting to keep the courtroom open
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noting the judge has already barred video of Robinson's restraints to avoid prejudicing future jurors
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The judge is expected to rule soon on exactly what the public will and won't be allowed to see later this month
