Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, will stand trial on June 21, 2028, according to a ruling handed down by a Utah judge on Monday.
District Judge Tony Graf set aside 105 days for the trial, balancing the defense’s need for preparation against the family’s desire for a swift resolution. Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking to a crowd during an event hosted by Turning Point USA in Orem, Utah.
The trial date follows months of sharp disagreements between prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the victim’s family over how quickly the proceedings should unfold. Robinson’s attorneys had initially requested a trial start date in the second half of 2029, arguing they needed ample time to challenge the state’s request for the death penalty, gather additional evidence, and potentially seek a change of venue.
Prosecutors countered by pushing for an earlier start, requesting a date of January 31, 2028, after stating they could theoretically be ready by October 2027. Prosecutors noted they preferred to avoid scheduling the lengthy proceedings across the worst of the winter season and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Meanwhile, Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, urged the court to begin the trial in 2027, criticizing the lengthy legal process as painful. In a statement, the Kirk family characterized Judge Graf’s decision as a delay, stating that every additional day without justice prolongs our family’s pain.
Jeffrey Neiman, an attorney representing the Kirk family, expressed frustration with the timeline during court proceedings. A trial in the summer of 2028, three years after Charlie’s assassination, does not feel very speedy to the Kirk family,
Neiman told the judge.
Robinson has pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he is convicted.
The case has also drawn high-level political scrutiny. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Judge Graf’s handling of the schedule, arguing on social media that the trial should begin within a month and asserting that the judge was asking unnecessary questions.
| Proposed Date | Proposed By | Details |
|---|---|---|
| October 2027 | Prosecutors | Earliest practical readiness date cited by the state. |
| January 31, 2028 | Prosecutors | Preferred state start date for a projected 17-week trial, avoiding winter holidays. |
| June 21, 2028 | Judge Tony Graf | Selected start date for jury selection, with 105 total days reserved for the court case. |
| Late 2029 | Defense Attorneys | Requested timeline to challenge the death penalty and seek a change of venue. |
Judge Graf has ordered an extensive pool of 3,600 prospective jurors to complete detailed questionnaires ahead of the June 2028 jury selection. Defense lawyers expect the trial itself to span six to seven months, while court administrators work to clear scheduling conflicts with other pending litigation involving the defense counsel.
