Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk, received permission from a judge to wear civilian clothes during his court appearances. This ruling came on Monday from Utah Judge Tony Graf, who decided that while Robinson could dress in regular clothing, he would still need to be shackled for safety reasons.
Robinson’s lawyers argued that wearing prison attire could unfairly influence the jury’s opinion of him, especially given the high-profile nature of the case. They highlighted the intense media coverage surrounding the incident, which could sway public perception. Judge Graf acknowledged their concerns but stated that allowing Robinson to wear civilian clothes would only cause a minor inconvenience for the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. He emphasized the importance of Robinson’s right to a fair trial and noted that images of him in prison garb could have a significant impact on potential jurors.
During the hearing, there was also a discussion about possibly banning cameras from the courtroom. The judge did not make a decision on that matter but indicated that both the prosecution and defense could file a joint request later if they agreed.
Robinson is set to return to court on January 16. His next scheduled appearance was initially set for Thursday, but both his legal team and prosecutors requested to postpone it.
This case has drawn significant attention, especially since Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at a college event in Utah last September. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital. In a posthumous honor, former President Donald Trump awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday, October 14.
