District Court ruling clears way for Utah County Attorney’s Office to continue pursuing capital charges against Tyler Robinson.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A Utah judge on Tuesday denied a request by Tyler Robinson to disqualify prosecutors in the murder case of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, rejecting arguments that a conflict of interest compromised the Utah County Attorney’s Office.
District Court Judge Tony Graf ruled that Robinson failed to demonstrate a factual basis for disqualification.
“Because the defendant has not established a factual basis for a finding of a conflict of interest or an objective appearance of impropriety rising to a constitutional concern, his motion is respectfully denied,” Graf said from the bench.
Robinson, 22, is accused of fatally shooting Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025, during a campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem. Authorities allege Robinson fired a single round from a rooftop, striking Kirk as he addressed students during a tour of U.S. colleges.
Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors from the Utah County Attorney’s Office were biased because the 18-year-old daughter of senior prosecutor Chad Grunander was approximately 85 feet from the shooting scene. Police reportedly moved in to protect her as chaos unfolded.
Robinson’s legal team contended that the office’s decision to seek the death penalty less than a week after the shooting reflected what they described as a “strong emotional reaction” by Grunander, whose daughter informed him of the incident through text messages.
Grunander testified that his daughter’s proximity to the shooting played no role in the capital decision. He said the move to pursue the death penalty came after prosecutors determined they had sufficient evidence against Robinson.
Judge Graf’s ruling allows the Utah County Attorney’s Office to continue prosecuting the case.
Robinson faces multiple charges, including:
– Aggravated murder, a capital offense
– Felony reckless discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury
– Two counts of felony obstruction of justice for allegedly hiding the firearm and discarding clothing worn during the shooting
– Two counts of witness tampering, including accusations that he asked a roommate to delete incriminating messages and demanded a roommate remain silent
– Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child
Utah prosecutors have formally indicated they are seeking the death penalty.
Robinson, who had been studying to become an electrician, is represented by public defenders Kathy Nester, Michael Burt, and Richard Novak. He has not yet entered a plea. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for mid-May.
Kirk, credited by supporters with mobilizing young voters during the 2024 election cycle, was killed in front of hundreds of attendees. The shooting drew national attention and renewed concerns about political violence in the United States.
The case now proceeds toward the preliminary hearing with the original prosecutorial team intact.
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