Defense in Charlie Kirk murder case seeks 2029 trial; Trump criticizes judge

Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the Utah man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, have suggested a 2029 trial date, saying they need several years to prepare. Kirk was killed on Sept. 10, 2025, at an open-air event at Utah Valley University, and Robinson could face the death penalty if convicted. The defense said it must conduct extensive investigations and sift through tens of thousands of files. An attorney for Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, rejected the proposal as unreasonable and accused Robinson of trying to delay the case. Her attorneys have asked for an October 2027 trial date. On Friday, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the judge was doing a terrible job and that the case should be tried within a month, not three years. Newsmax identified the judge as Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf.

Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing; alternative/independent and right-leaning outlets had. Right-leaning Just the News and Newsmax lead with Trump's reaction, and both headlines name him. Just the News quotes his posts, including his claim that the judge is dishonoring Kirk's memory, and adds the Oct. 2027 request from Erika Kirk's attorneys. Newsmax focuses on Trump's criticism of Graf. The excerpts from both give little of the defense's stated reasons. The alternative/independent outlets, Straight Arrow News and AP, take a different angle. They lead with the defense request and its rationale, the need for investigation and the volume of files. AP also includes the response from Erika Kirk's attorney. Their excerpts do not mention Trump. All the coverage agrees on the 2029 request and on the accusation against Robinson. It differs on whether the story is the defense's scheduling argument or the president's response.