Attorneys for the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk are asking a Utah judge to let him appear in civilian clothing and without restraints during all court proceedings, citing concerns over fairness amid intense national coverage.
In a 20-page motion filed Oct. 22, defense lawyers for Tyler Robinson argued the case has turned into what they called a “content tornado” — a social-media storm of commentary, viral clips, and speculation that has already shaped public opinion, Fox News reported.
They warned that new footage showing Robinson in jail attire could further prejudice future jurors.
Judge Tony Graf granted prosecutors’ request to file their response privately, shielding the state’s arguments from public view. Prosecutors said their sealed filing includes input from the court’s security director, Chris Palmer, outlining specific safety measures in Robinson’s case.
A closed hearing appeared on the court docket Friday morning. Multiple sources confirmed to Fox News that it concerned the defense’s request for Robinson to appear unshackled and in civilian clothes.
The hearing was closed to protect sensitive courthouse security details. Graf is expected to rule on the defense motion after a follow-up “ruling hearing” scheduled for Monday.
The next open hearing in the case is set for Oct. 30 at 10 a.m., when Robinson is expected to appear in person.
Defense lawyers cited extensive media coverage of Robinson’s early court appearances, including televised footage of him wearing what appeared to be a bulletproof or suicide vest during his first hearing.
The motion also references public statements from President Donald Trump, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, and federal officials — remarks the defense says undermined Robinson’s presumption of innocence.
According to the filing, Trump said shortly after Robinson’s arrest that authorities had caught the suspect “with a high degree of certainty,” adding, “I hope he gets the death penalty.”
The same day, Cox opened a press conference by declaring, “We got him,” before discussing details of the investigation.
Defense attorneys say those public declarations, combined with televised images of Robinson in custody, have “polluted the waters of justice” and risk making a fair trial impossible.
The motion cites Deck v. Missouri (2005), a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits the use of shackles in court unless there is a specific security justification. The defense argues that protection extends to all public appearances, not just jury trials, given the livestreaming of nearly every phase of high-profile proceedings.
They also challenge the Utah County Sheriff’s policy of automatically applying heightened restraints in high-profile cases, calling it unconstitutional without individualized findings.
Prosecutors and sheriff’s officials suggested Robinson could appear remotely to avoid public exposure. The defense rejected that idea, saying forcing remote appearances would violate Robinson’s right to attend his capital proceedings in person.
“The law does not require a defendant to choose between personal attendance and the appearance of innocence,” the defense motion said.
While opposing the use of restraints, Robinson’s lawyers agreed with the sheriff’s office that video and photography inside the courtroom should be limited or banned.
They said televised coverage fuels “sensationalism and spectacle,” further endangering the ability to seat an impartial jury in a case already saturated by public opinion.
Judge Graf’s ruling next week will determine whether Robinson appears unshackled and in civilian attire when he returns to court later this month.