New Utah Judge Takes On Accused Killer S Death Penalty Case In Charlie

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 11:11 PM

new utah judge takes on accused killer s death penalty case in charlie

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Judge Tony Graf Jr. has found himself at the center of one of Utah’s most closely watched murder cases less than two months after taking the bench. Tyler James Robinson was accused of killing Charlie Kirk on the campus of Utah Valley University. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. When new cases are filed, they are randomly assigned a judge through the state’s computerized Court Records Information System. Cases are assigned equally among all judges at a court location, according to a spokesperson for the Utah State Courts.

“This is going to be a career-defining moment, and judges don’t usually get that six weeks in,” said attorney Nathan Evershed, who is not connected to the Robinson case but has worked with Graf... The two served together in the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office more than a decade ago. Evershed described Graf as sharp and steady, with the kind of decisiveness required for high-stakes trials. Attorney Nathan Evershed, who has previously worked with Judge Tony Graf, says the newly appointed judge faces a career-defining challenge as he leads one of Utah’s most scrutinized trials. Two Utah attorneys say newly appointed Judge Tony Graf will bring fairness, experience and steady leadership to the state’s most closely watched murder trial, a case one calls "the biggest legal case in Utah... Defense attorney Skye Lazaro told Fox News Digital she expects Graf to approach the high-profile proceedings involving Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk, with diligence and balance.

"He’s very conscientious… very fair," Lazaro said. "I would expect that he’s going to take his oath of office very seriously in working through this case." Graf, a longtime Utah prosecutor before his appointment to the bench, will oversee the capital case against Robinson, accused in the high-profile killing of the Turning Point USA founder. Lazaro, who has known Graf professionally for years, said his background provides valuable experience but doesn’t compromise impartiality. Legal. Deadly.

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And in a growing number of cases, criminals don’t need to steal or touch your card at all—they can siphon your information right through your wallet. Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way. The most consequential recent developments in the Charlie Kirk case are the arrest and charging of suspect Tyler James Robinson, the assignment of a newly seated judge Tony Graf Jr. to a potential death-penalty prosecution, and ongoing disputes over courtroom cameras and media access led publicly by Erika Kirk; these items together shape the case's immediate procedural trajectory and public attention [1] [2] [3]. Reporting across outlets also highlights ancillary developments — an FBI role following the shooting, a separate small prosecution for a threatening message, and political debate about cameras in federal court — which broaden the...

1. Arrest, Charges and the Core Criminal Case: Who is in custody and what are they charged with? Law enforcement arrested Tyler James Robinson and charged him with multiple felonies in connection with Charlie Kirk’s killing; prosecutors are pursuing aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and related counts,... Robinson’s arrest reportedly followed recognition by his parents from media images and his subsequent surrender, and court scheduling currently places key in-person hearings in January 2026; courtroom rules have already been set to allow... The FBI involvement and a public reward offer also indicate a multi-agency investigative posture and an ongoing evidence-gathering phase [5]. 2.

New Judge, High Stakes: What does Judge Tony Graf Jr.’s assignment mean for the trial? Prosecutors have filed a notice to seek the death penalty for Robinson. Tyler Robinson, who is accused of assassinating conservative influencer Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, has been formally charged with a slew of offenses, including aggravated murder, with prosecutors announcing the intent to seek the death penalty. Robinson, 22, has also been charged with felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of... Gray, who described Kirk's death as "an American tragedy," said he does not "take this decision lightly" in regard to seeking the death penalty for Robinson.

The suspected shooter will continue to be held without bail. Robinson made his first appearance in court virtually on Tuesday, where a judge read off the suspect’s charges. He will remain in custody. After a closed-door meeting Wednesday, the Utah County Commission announced the selection of legal counsel for the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk. In open session, the three-member panel unanimously approved an “agreement for indigent defense services” with longtime Utah trial lawyer Kathryn Nester to represent Robinson. The commission then adjourned the meeting without discussion.

“This action fulfills the commission’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that individuals accused of a crime — who cannot afford legal representation — are provided with a qualified defense," according to a county press release. Nester will be the lead attorney and Richard Novak and Michael Burt work as co-counsel in the case, according to the agreement. Nester, of the Salt Lake City law firm Nester Lewis, has practiced in state and federal court for more than 30 years, according to her bio. Her more than 60 jury trials have included a wide variety of cases, including capital murder. She has headed the federal defender’s offices in Salt Lake City and San Diego for a decade. Reporting by Brad Brooks in Provo, Utah; Additional reporting by James Oliphant, Julia Harte, Christian Martinez, Kanishka Singh, Jasper Ward and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Joseph Ax and Steve Gorman; Editing by Lincoln Feast,...

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Updated on: September 17, 2025 / 12:24 AM EDT / CBS News Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, on Tuesday was granted a pretrial protective order against the suspect in his murder, Tyler Robinson, that prohibits him from contacting or harassing her. "The defendant represents a credible threat to the physical safety of the protected person," according to the filing granted by Judge Tony Graf. Furthermore, Jeffrey Neiman, a Miami-based attorney, filed a request on behalf of Erika Kirk that she be designated a representative of her late husband in the case. "It is requested that Erika Kirk, the widow of Charles James Kirk, be designated the representative of the victim in this case to exercise all the rights afforded the victim pursuant to Utah Code…,"...

UTAH COUNTY, Utah, Sept. 16, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray announced Tuesday that the death penalty will be sought for Tyler James Robinson, the accused killer of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, 31, who... 10 while speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 at Utah Valley University. “I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty,” Gray said. “I do not take this decision lightly and it is a decision I have made independently as County Attorney, based solely on the available evidence and circumstances and nature of the crime, because we... The defendant will continue to be held without bail in the Utah County jail.”

Gray announced Robinson, 22, will face charges including: During an arraignment in Utah County’s Fourth District Court on Tuesday afternoon — Robinson, in his first court appearance since turning himself in — remained largely silent throughout the proceeding, which he attended via... Clad in protective body armor, Robinson responded quickly and clearly to Judge Tony F. Graf’s request that he identify himself. He also showed no reaction upon hearing officially in open court that prosecutors were seeking the death penalty. • First hearing: Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the killing of Charlie Kirk, appeared virtually for his first court hearing since he was formally charged on seven counts today.

Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty. • Text messages revealed: Charging documents show the suspect confessed in a series of messages sent to his roommate after the attack. Robinson’s mother said he had become more political and leaned left, “becoming more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.” Robinson “began to date his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning genders,” his mother said, according... • Congressional hearing: FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the probe into Kirk’s murder. He told lawmakers that the FBI is interviewing more than 20 people who participated in an online chat with Robinson. Our live coverage has ended.

You can read more about the charges against the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing here and more about FBI Director Kash Patel’s Senate hearing here. While Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged in Charlie Kirk’s murder, was not physically in court for his first appearance today, two women who survived the shooting on Utah Valley University’s campus were there to...

New Utah Judge Takes On Accused Killer S Death Penalty Case In Charlie

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