State District Court Judge Tony Graf said in a hearing that an Oct. 24 transcript be released with some redactions by the end of Monday.
A judge in Utah ruled on Monday that an audio transcript from a closed-door hearing in the case against alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson must be made public.
State District Court Judge Tony Graf said in a hearing on Dec. 29 that a transcript for an Oct. 24 hearing in the case must be released with some redactions by the end of the day.
The private hearing was held to review whether Robinson would be allowed to appear in future court hearings in civilian clothing and unshackled. The judge had ruled that the defendant could wear non-jail garb but would have to be shackled or restrained for safety purposes.
“The public has a presumptive right to access court records,” Graf said, adding that he made the decision based on arguments made by media outlets who were pushing to have those records released.
He ordered a redaction of the transcript that detailed security measures, including information about shackles, that were identified in a previous status report before the court.
Robinson, 22, attended virtually but did not appear onscreen during a video hearing.
Earlier in December, the suspect appeared in court for the first time as his attorneys requested that members of the media not be allowed to film hearings or proceedings in the case, arguing that potential jurors could be prejudiced.
Robinson was charged with seven felony counts, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child in the shooting death of Charlie Kirk—co-founder of the organization Turning Point USA—in September. Prosecutors in the case have indicated they will seek the death penalty.
During his first in-person court appearance on Dec. 11, Robinson smiled at his parents and brother sitting in the front row. His mother teared up after he walked in and clutched a tissue throughout the hearing while his father took notes.
Early in the proceedings, Graf briefly stopped a media livestream of the hearing and ordered the camera to be moved after Robinson’s attorneys said the stream showed the defendant’s shackles, in violation of a courtroom order.
Graf said he would terminate future broadcasts if there were further violations of the order issued in October, which bars media from showing images of Robinson in restraints or anywhere in the courtroom except sitting at the defense table.
