A Utah judge has set a June 2028 trial date for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, rejecting defense requests to delay proceedings until late 2029.
Fourth District Judge Tony Graf on Monday ordered jury selection to begin June 21, 2028, allocating 105 court days for the death penalty case in Provo. The decision came after prosecutors proposed a January 2028 start date, while Robinson’s defense team sought a July-September 2029 timeline, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Family Expresses Frustration Over Delay
Kirk’s family called the 2028 trial date “deeply disappointing” in a statement, saying it prolongs their wait for justice. “Every additional day without justice prolongs our family’s pain,” the statement read. Kirk’s widow, Erika, had pushed for proceedings to begin by October 2027.
Jeffrey Neiman, the family’s attorney, argued in court that the extended timeline denies closure. “Justice delayed this long stops being justice,” Neiman told Judge Graf, while also criticizing the $1.6 million in taxpayer funds spent so far on Robinson’s defense team.
Defense Cites Case Complexity
Robinson’s attorney Richard Novak countered that rushing the complex capital case could lead to mistakes, with tens of thousands of discovery files still requiring review. Judge Graf acknowledged the need for thorough preparation, stating the schedule must allow time for proper mitigation work in the death penalty case.
The decision comes months after Graf found probable cause for the case to proceed in September, with Robinson facing seven counts including aggravated murder. The suspect has pleaded not guilty.
Political Reactions
Former President Donald Trump previously criticized the pace of proceedings in a Truth Social post, arguing Robinson should be tried “within a month” and accusing Graf of unnecessary delays. Attorneys will return to court in April 2028 for a final determination on whether the June trial date will hold.
Source: www.breitbart.com โ https://www.breitbart.com/crime/2026/11/09/charlie-kirk-assassination-trial-judge-sets-2028-start-date-for-suspect-tyler-robinson/