Utah Commissioner Warns Tyler Robinson Death Penalty Case Could Cost

Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner discusses the legal, financial, and emotional pressures Utah County faces as the Charlie Kirk murder case moves toward trial. Utah County leaders are navigating mounting costs, national media attention and public frustration over the county’s obligation to pay for defense attorneys in the case against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Turning... Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, one of three elected county commissioners who oversee policy, operations and finances, said Utah County has already spent "just over a quarter of a million dollars" on the case, a... "Under the Constitution, we have a right to a competent defense," Powers Gardner said. "It is imperative that if we want to have a society that we believe in justice, that justice needs to be fair and equal." She said she’s heard from constituents who are frustrated that taxpayer dollars will fund his defense.

Still, she emphasized the county’s constitutional duty and the financial wisdom of ensuring a fair trial, especially in a potential death-penalty case. Utah County leaders are now busy navigating increasing costs, public frustration and media attention over the United States’ obligation to pay for defense attorneys in the case against Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin. Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, one of three elected county commissioners who oversee policy, operations and finances, said that Utah County has already had to spend "just over a quarter of a million dollars" on... The figure is expected to double by the year’s end, and might even reach around $5 million over the next year and a half, she added. "Under the Constitution, we have a right to a competent defense," Powers Gardner said, per the outlet. "It is imperative that if we want to have a society that we believe in justice, that justice needs to be fair and equal."

Powers Gardner said that she has heard from frustrated constituents that taxpayer dollars will fund his defense. However, she stressed the county’s duty to ensure a fair trial, especially in a case that might result in the death penalty. Powers Gardner said that she is working to keep the community united after the tragedy. "My job is also to be a leader for my community, and that’s what I have focused on," she said. "You have to keep in mind, not everybody who was traumatized that day was a Charlie Kirk supporter. There were hundreds of people there that were protesting at that event and were just as traumatized that they saw a father and husband murdered."

Read More | Tulsi Gabbard holds back tears as she honors Charlie Kirk, ‘The time that we have in this world is temporary’ | Video Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner discusses the legal, financial, and emotional pressures Utah County faces as the Charlie Kirk murder case moves toward trial. Utah County leaders are navigating mounting costs, national media attention and public frustration over the county’s obligation to pay for defense attorneys in the case against Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Turning... Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, one of three elected county commissioners who oversee policy, operations and finances, said Utah County has already spent "just over a quarter of a million dollars" on the case, a... "Under the Constitution, we have a right to a competent defense," Powers Gardner said. "It is imperative that if we want to have a society that we believe in justice, that justice needs to be fair and equal." She said she’s heard from constituents who are frustrated that...

Still, she emphasized the county’s constitutional duty and the financial wisdom of ensuring a fair trial, especially in a potential death-penalty case. The event last month in Glendale, Arizona, included protection from ARCUS Group, LLC, a full-service event management and perimeter security From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the... Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important... At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.

And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. American taxpayers paid over $2.6 million to cover the security costs for Charlie Kirk’s huge memorial service, according to a new report. Sep 18, 2025, 12:02 PM | Updated: Sep 25, 2025, 9:43 am SALT LAKE CITY — Utah County announced the name of the defense attorney who will represent the man accused of shooting and... KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas helped Utah County select the legal representation for the alleged shooter, Tyler James Robinson, 22. The Utah County Commission announced on Wednesday that its members unanimously approved a contract to appoint Kathryn Nester as Robinson’s defense attorney.

The reason for such a high cost, Skordas said, is because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in Robinson’s case. Utah County leaders are now busy navigating increasing costs, public frustration and media attention over the United States’ obligation to pay for defense attorneys in the case against Tyler Robinson, Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin. Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner, one of three elected county commissioners who oversee policy, operations and finances, said that Utah County has already had to spend "just over a quarter of a million dollars" on... The figure is expected to double by the year’s end, and might even reach around $5 million over the next year and a half, she added. "Under the Constitution, we have a right to a competent defense," Powers Gardner said, per the outlet. "It is imperative that if we want to have a society that we believe in justice, that justice needs to be fair and equal." Powers Gardner said that she has heard from frustrated constituents...

However, she stressed the county’s duty to ensure a fair trial, especially in a case that might result in the death penalty. Powers Gardner said that she is working to keep the community united after the tragedy. "My job is also to be a leader for my community, and that’s what I have focused on," she said. 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. Utah County, Utah prosecutors release the formal charges against Tyler Robinson, who they believe shot and killed right wing activist Charlie Kirk in their county on Sept.

10. Prosecutors in Utah have formally charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder. That's in the shooting death of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. They will pursue the death penalty. They also revealed new information about Robinson's roommate and communications between the two immediately after the shooting. Martha Harris from member station KUER was at the press conference that prosecutors gave in Provo, Utah, and joins us now.

Hi, Martha. CHANG: OK, so tell us more about what prosecutors were saying today as they announced these charges. HARRIS: Yeah, so they announced that they're filing six felony charges and one misdemeanor against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, including aggravated murder. Here's Utah County attorney Jeff Gray. JEFF GRAY: Following the press conference, I am filing a notice of intent to seek the death penalty. I do not take this decision lightly, and it is a decision I have made independently.

Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray filed charges Tuesday against the man suspected of killing Charlie Kirk and said he intends to pursue the death penalty. Tyler Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, faces seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder, a capital felony, after he allegedly shot and killed Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem last Wednesday. Gray announced the charges during a news conference at the Utah County Health and Justice Center in Provo. Gray said he was not pressured by the administrations of President Donald Trump or Gov. Spencer Cox to pursue the death penalty and that he made the decision of his own accord. “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,” he said.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital that alleged Charlie Kirk assassin's defense could cost Utah taxpayers over $10 million. Utah taxpayers are on the hook for Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin's defense team, which has the potential to reach eight figures, criminal defense attorneys told Fox News Digital. After the shooting on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Kirk was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he died, officials said. Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice and felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense... Kathryn Nester, a former federal public defender with more than 30 years of experience, was appointed to be Robinson's attorney on Wednesday, according to a Utah County spokesperson.

While the Utah County Commission approved $1 million in initial staffing additions to go towards the prosecution and defense team in Robinson's case, local attorneys told Fox News Digital that they expect the total... CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING DETAILS ATTACK, MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Attorney General Derek Brown in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. On Thursday night, Gov. Spencer Cox said Utah officials had been “working with our attorneys getting everything that we need … so that we can pursue the death penalty” for Charlie Kirk’s killer.

“That will happen here in the state of Utah,” Cox told reporters. But Friday morning, with suspect Tyler Robinson now in custody, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said it’s not yet clear whether prosecutors will pursue the death penalty against him. “I can say that it’s obviously part of Utah law,” Brown said in an interview. “It is an option here, but it’s not something that I can talk about in terms of whether that will play a role in this case.”

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