Utah judge finds prosecutor in Charlie Kirk assassination case in contempt

Court Battles Utah judge finds prosecutor in Charlie Kirk assassination case in contempt Comments: by Sarah Davis - 06/27/26 10:39 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 06/27/26 10:39 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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A Utah judge in the case against Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer held a top prosecutor in contempt on Friday over comments he made to the media about the case’s defendant, but the judge opted to keep the death penalty on the table.

Judge Tony Graf said during a court hearing on Friday that Utah County prosecutor Christopher Ballard’s comments to media outlets about alleged gunman Tyler Robinson violated a publicity order he issued for this case last year.

Robinson’s lawyers asked for prosecutors to be disqualified from the case over statements that Ballard made to the outlets earlier this year about a report included in a defense filing. The prosecutor is also a spokesperson for the Utah County Attorney’s Office.

After media began reporting earlier this spring on a ballistics filing that stated authorities were “unable to identify” that the recovered bullet found at the crime scene was tied to Robinson’s alleged firearm, Ballard sought to “set the record straight” and told outlets that these results were inconclusive.

Graf found the prosecutor’s additional comments to reporters about the strength of the state’s case against Robinson “possessed a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing the proceedings.”

The judge noted that these remarks were not made with malicious intent in this case and said his contempt ruling was not related to the charges against the suspect.

Additionally, he did not grant the defense’s request to block the state from seeking the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. The judge said the court will instead consider “expanded” jury selection procedures and that the defense will be permitted to recover legal fees tied to the contempt proceedings.

Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and committing a violent act in the presence of a child related to Kirk’s assassination last fall.

The 31-year-old conservative activist and an outspoken ally of President Trump was shot and killed on Sept. 10, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event on Utah Valley University campus.