A Utah judge has delivered two significant legal defeats to Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

On Monday, District Judge Tony Graf ruled that new evidence in the high-profile murder case will be made public during a five-day preliminary hearing scheduled for July. The judge also rejected Robinson’s request to ban news cameras from filming and live-streaming the proceedings.

Prosecutors allege that Robinson fatally shot Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. Robinson reportedly confessed to the killing in text messages to his lover shortly afterward.

Robinson’s defense team had argued that allowing media access would prejudice potential jurors and turn the hearing into a “propaganda” event. They also accused prosecutors of sensationalizing the case and violating a pre-trial publicity order.

Judge Graf declined to hold the Provo County District Attorney’s office in contempt but scheduled a hearing for June 12 to allow both sides to present further arguments on the matter.

The judge noted that much of the evidence has already been widely discussed publicly and emphasized that other safeguards — such as expanding the jury pool, detailed questionnaires, and thorough voir dire — can protect Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has pushed for maximum transparency in the proceedings amid widespread conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination.

The July hearing is expected to feature prosecutors laying out their strongest evidence against Robinson. The case continues to draw intense national attention.