Jed Rubenfeld Three Legal Questions About Charlie Kirk S Assassination

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 2:25 AM

jed rubenfeld three legal questions about charlie kirk s assassination

Even as many of us are still reeling from the assassination of Charlie Kirk and trying to understand what is happening to our country, I have been repeatedly asked three legal questions about it. For those looking for a little legal distraction or clarity, here are my answers. Why has the suspect, Tyler Robinson, been charged under Utah law instead of federal law, and can he get the death penalty? Robinson has not been federally charged, at least not yet, because murder by itself is not a federal crime. Other jurisdictional elements have to be satisfied. For example, if someone kills a federal officer or kills on federal property, that is a federal offense.

There is a federal hate-crimes statute, but it is keyed to familiar protected classes, making murder a federal offense if the perpetrator killed because of the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual... In other words, it’s not a federal offense to kill someone because of their political opinions. Robinson was arrested for aggravated murder, and yes, if he is convicted, he could get the death penalty. Aggravated murder is a capital offense in Utah. In fact, Utah is one of the few states that still executes by firing squad, so Kirk’s murderer could literally reap what he sowed. Legal.

Deadly. Twice as lethal as fentanyl. And still on shelves. This legal drug is killing more Americans than fentanyl. Still think it’s safe?. AI was utilized for research, writing, citation management, and editing.

Why do we believe what we believe? And how do those beliefs shape our politics?. Thomas Sowell, one of the world’s most influential economists and social philosophers, set out to answer this question in his 1987 book,A Conflict of Visions. In it, he traces the underlying logic behind all modern political divides—why it is that knowing someone’s position … Testing found elevated levels of a potential carcinogenic impurity in several lots of Prazosin Hydrochloride capsules. AI was utilized for research, writing, citation management, and editing.

Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler first burst into the spotlight when they came forward as whistleblowers in the Hunter Biden tax evasion case. It was 2023, and as they told the story, interference by President Joe Biden’s Justice Department had kept the case from proceeding—a case the IRS investigators had taken years to build. The author used artificial intelligence in the crafting of this article. You may think there’s an obvious reason so many homeless people scream in fits of rage on the streets of Denver, often speaking nonsensically or with profanity. They may be on drugs, or they may be drunk, most would assume. Fox News contributor Paul Mauro joins 'America's Newsroom' to share more details on Charlie Kirk's suspected assassin, as well as his roommate's potential culpability and the growing issue of how Gen Z's internet access...

OREM, Utah – The murder case against the man accused of killing conservative speaker Charlie Kirk is already facing major legal hurdles — from questions about defense funding to whether the crime even qualifies... Tyler Robinson, 22, is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail. Prosecutors say he climbed onto a rooftop at Utah Valley University, shot Kirk from about 200 yards away and fled before surrendering near his home in Washington, Utah. Defending Robinson is proving to be no simple task. Utah requires attorneys in death penalty cases to have prior trial and capital case experience, and at least two must be appointed. That level of commitment can consume a year or more of full-time work, experts told Fox News Digital, forcing lawyers to set aside other clients and personal obligations.

"It’s a huge undertaking to represent someone in a case like this," Utah criminal defense lawyer Randall Spencer, who has handled multiple murder and high profile cases, told Fox News Digital. "It really is a sacrifice for defense attorneys who take on this kind of work." Defense attorney and former prosecutor Joshua Ritter unpacks the hearings against Tyler Robinson on 'The Story.' A Utah judge’s decision to hold repeated off-camera hearings for the man accused of assassinating Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk is drawing warnings from legal experts who say the move sacrifices transparency in... Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of shooting the 31-year-old father of two as he delivered remarks during an event at Utah Valley University last month — but the suspect has not been seen publicly... "If the public can't see who's speaking in a courtroom, that's a serious transparency issue," said Randolph Rice, a Maryland attorney and legal analyst.

"Our justice system depends on open proceedings and the public needs to know that the person who is answering questions is the same person that is accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk." CHARLIE KIRK'S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN WILL NOT SHOW FACE IN COURT, KEY HEARING POSTPONED On Sept. 10, 2025, Turning Point USA co-founder and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a Utah college speaking event. Politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and former President Joe Biden, condemned the shooting.

Snopes is working on fact-checking claims that have spread online after Kirk's death. We fact-checked his last words, as well as famous quotes, like a comment he made about Jewish money ruining the U.S. Here are six claims we've fact-checked about Kirk since the shooting: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to...

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination on Sept. 10, there are several major First Amendment issues being raised and questions being asked. On Wednesday, ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show indefinitely following comments he made about Kirk and after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr seemed to threaten regulatory action against ABC, raising questions about how... Earlier in the week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi received bipartisan pushback for multiple incorrect First Amendment-related statements: that hate speech is not free speech (it is, and Bondi subsequently acknowledged as much) and that the government can prosecute... The conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025, has started a fierce debate about the principles and limits of freedom of speech in America.

Kirk, who was the founder of the organization Turning Point USA, was a big advocate of freedom of speech under the First Amendment. Kirk often tweeted on X, a social media platform, that even “ugly,” “gross,” and “evil” speech is protected by the First Amendment. Kirk’s death, however, did not lead to a unified defense of freedom of speech. Rather, it has exposed deep ideological divisions and triggered a wave of reactions that threaten to undermine the very principles Kirk once fiercely advocated for. In the days after Kirk’s assassination, some individuals made offensive comments or praised his killing online. This led to private companies, including airlines, universities, and media organizations, firing or suspending employees for their posts about Kirk’s assassination.

Some of the private sector firings included a Phoenix sports reporter who was terminated after calling Kirk a “bigot,” and MSNBC, a cable channel, terminated a commentator for suggesting “Kirk’s rhetoric had contributed to... Although no violation of freedom of speech occurred, these incidents raise broader questions about the scope of free speech in the workplace. The situation became more concerning when government officials actively encouraged these firings. One of the encouragements came from the Vice President, JD Vance, who urged listeners of Kirk’s podcast to “call their employer” if they saw anyone celebrating Kirk’s assassination. Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, publicly pressured airlines to not just suspend but fire employees who had posted offensive posts. Attorney General Pam Bondi initially mentioned that the government would “absolutely target you, go after you, if you are targeting anyone with hate speech,” a remark that went against the Supreme Court’s repeated rulings...

After her initial statement, she tweeted on X that “hate speech that crosses the line into threats of violence is NOT protected.” One prominent example of government pressure involved comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the ABC network. Kimmel, on his show, suggested that MAGA figures were cynically spinning Charlie Kirk’s murder for political gain and criticized President Trump’s response to Kirk’s death. After Kimmel’s comments, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr suggested that ABC could face regulatory action. He urged that the network should take action against Kimmel.

Soon after, ABC announced that it would suspend airing Jimmy Kimmel Live! indefinitely. The decision drew widespread criticism as an instance of “jawboning,” in which the government leverages its influence to pressure private entities into suppressing speech. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the commission’s sole Democrat, condemned the move as a “dangerous new precedent” and argued that the government was suppressing lawful expression merely because it “reflects views they oppose.” Legal experts across the political spectrum stress that the First Amendment protects even offensive and hateful speech. Republican Senator Ted Cruz stated, “The First Amendment absolutely protects speech… It absolutely protects hate speech.

It protects vile speech. It protects horrible speech.” This view was echoed by Eugene Volokh, a leading First Amendment scholar and UCLA law professor, who observed that although celebrating a death may be in poor taste, it is... Some prominent conservatives, including Matt Walsh, expressed frustration by calling for Pam Bondi’s removal after she claimed that hate speech is not protected by the First Amendment. Reporting by Joseph Ax, Rich McKay and Julia Harte; Additional reporting by Brad Brooks and Jonathan Allen; Editing by Frank McGurty and Daniel Wallis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab By Dalia Faheid, Betsy Klein, Chris Boyette, CNN

(CNN) — As investigators pore through online messages, notes and engraved shell casings in their search for a motive in the killing of one of the country’s most prominent conservative activists at a Utah... Spencer Cox told CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday. Meanwhile, mourners across the country are attending vigils to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old ally of President Donald Trump and cofounder of the youth organization Turning Point USA. The 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is preparing to host a massive memorial the morning of September 21 that is expected to be a testament to Kirk’s influence. His widow, Erika Kirk, pledged Friday to continue his work, including his campus tours and podcast. Here’s what we know about the investigation into the killing and how Kirk is being mourned.

(Sept. 11, 2025): Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) issues the following statement following the assassination of Charlie Kirk at a college free speech event: Yesterday, a man lost his life for openly expressing his views. The fact that the assassination of Charlie Kirk took place on a college campus—where freedom of speech is supposed to be most valued and revered—makes this all the more tragic. Not just for Charlie’s family, but for the state of our American Republic. As we reflect on yesterday’s events, as well as the events of 9/11, we trust that truth, goodness, and freedom will continue to prevail over evil.

Jed Rubenfeld Three Legal Questions About Charlie Kirk S Assassination

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