Judge in Tyler Robinson’s case to weigh holding prosecutors in contempt

The man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk will be back in court on Friday, where a judge is expected to decide whether to hold prosecutors in contempt for comments made about the case on Fox News.

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Tyler Robinson, 23, will appear before Fourth District Judge Tony Graf Jr. in criminal court in Provo, Utah. The judge is expected to rule on whether Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard violated a court order by appearing on Fox News in April to discuss bullet evidence in the case.

Robinson’s attorneys filed a motion arguing that Ballard’s appearance — which they called a “contemptuous media tour” — breached the judge’s order limiting out-of-court statements about the case. His lawyers have sought to restrict media coverage of the proceedings, contending that the intense public attention threatens Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Kirk, a right-wing activist and founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at a campus debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah last year.

Robinson turned himself in to a local sheriff’s office a day after the killing. He was charged with felony aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of felony obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

If convicted, prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty . Robinson has not yet entered a plea.

The killing and images from the scene drew weeks of global media attention.

Graf ruled on June 1 that reporters and members of the public will be allowed to access to the courtroom, though the media will be barred from viewing or copying certain exhibits that could be used at trial.

Representatives for the Utah County Attorney’s Office and Robinson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.