A Utah judge has scheduled the trial for Tyler Robinson, accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to begin with jury selection on June 21, 2028.

A Utah judge on Monday set a June 2028 trial date for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year. District Judge Tony Graf scheduled jury selection to begin on June 21, 2028, balancing requests from the defense for a 2029 start against demands from prosecutors and the victim's family for a quicker timeline. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other counts in the shooting death of Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Scheduling Arguments and Reactions

District Judge Tony Graf allocated 105 days for the trial, stating the schedule balances Robinson's right to prepare his defense with the rights of Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, to a speedy resolution. Robinson's attorneys had requested a late 2029 trial date to allow time to challenge Utah's request for the death penalty, gather additional evidence, and seek a change of venue, while expecting a six-to-seven-month trial. Prosecutors had proposed starting in January 2028 for what they expected to be a 17-week trial. Erika Kirk's attorney argued that a 2028 trial does not feel speedy to the family, characterizing the decision as a delay that prolongs their pain. U.S. President Donald Trump previously criticized Judge Graf's handling of the case in a social media post, arguing that the trial should start within a month. Trump and prosecutors have described Kirk as an ally who helped galvanize young voters during the 2024 election.

Case Details and Allegations

Robinson, 23, turned himself in a day after the September 10, 2025 shooting of 31-year-old Kirk, who was speaking to several thousand people at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Robinson faces the death penalty if convicted of charges that include aggravated murder. Utah County prosecutors allege Robinson targeted Kirk for his political beliefs, citing text messages and an engraving on a bullet found in the rifle used in the shooting. Defense attorneys have noted that Kirk spoke critically about people without traditional gender identities or who were not heterosexual, though they maintained there was no evidence Robinson opposed those views. Kirk was a polarizing figure, admired by conservatives for his Christian and right-wing activism while facing criticism from civil rights advocates over public remarks concerning Black Americans, LGBTQ communities, Muslims, and immigrants.