A Utah judge has set the trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to begin with jury selection on June 21, 2028, ending weeks of argument over how fast the case should move.
Fourth District Judge Tony Graf announced the schedule from the bench in Provo on Monday, Nov. 9. According to ABC4, he reserved 105 court days for the proceeding, with 20 days for jury selection and 85 for the trial itself, and said the court will hold monthly pretrial status conferences starting in January 2027.
The date falls between the two sides' proposals. Prosecutors said they could be ready by October 2027 but proposed January 2028 so the trial would not run through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Robinson's lawyers asked for a tentative start in the third quarter of 2029, calling any earlier firm date speculative given evidence still being processed.
"unnecessary delay remains a serious concern
— Judge Tony Graf, as reported by NBC News
Robinson, 23, faces seven counts, including aggravated murder, in the shooting of Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University. Judge Graf ordered him to stand trial on all counts on Sept. 1, 2026, and Robinson pleaded not guilty at his arraignment that day.
Prosecutors are still seeking the death penalty. At the September hearing, Graf left that possibility in place and said whether the state can prove the aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt is a question for trial.
Why the schedule was contested
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, urged the court to set trial for 2027, and her attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, argued that a multi-year delay would undermine victims' speedy-trial rights under Utah law. After the ruling, Neiman said the family would accept the June 2028 date but asked the court to avoid any further delays.
The defense said a firm date this early would create false precision, arguing the volume of electronic evidence and the stakes of a capital case require far more preparation time. Graf said jury selection must also proceed at a pace that allows thorough vetting of jurors.
What the new schedule means
Besides the monthly status conferences, the court will hold a hearing in April 2028 to confirm whether the trial can begin as planned in June, according to People's report on the hearing. The reserved time would carry the proceeding into the fall of 2028.
Even with a date in place, additional pretrial hearings are expected before jury selection begins.
Key points
The order sets a long runway before any jury is seated.
✓ Jury selection is set to begin June 21, 2028
✓ 105 court days are reserved: 20 for jury selection and 85 for trial
✓ Monthly pretrial status conferences begin in January 2027
✓ A hearing in April 2028 will check whether the June start holds
✓ Prosecutors may continue to seek the death penalty
Robinson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What Happens Next
Pretrial litigation continues. Defense lawyers questioned the reliability of some DNA analysis presented at the July preliminary hearing, and a dispute over cameras in the courtroom has already surfaced, including the defense's concerns about online betting markets tied to the case.
Prosecutors have said they would take the case to trial as soon as the court allows. The defense says the complexity of the case and the potential for capital punishment justify a much longer timeline.
does not feel very speedy— Jeffrey Neiman, attorney for the Kirk family, on the trial date
This report is based on coverage of the Nov. 9 hearing by NBC News, CNN, ABC4 and KSL, and earlier reporting on the September ruling from Fox News.
Sources
- NBC News: Tyler Robinson trial date set for summer 2028 (Nov. 9, 2026)nbcnews.com(opens in a new tab)
- CNN: Judge sets trial date for Charlie Kirk’s accused killer (Nov. 9, 2026)cnn.com(opens in a new tab)
- ABC4: Utah judge schedules 105-day trial for Tyler Robinson (Nov. 9, 2026)abc4.com(opens in a new tab)
- KSL: Jury trial for Tyler Robinson scheduled to last 105 days in summer 2028ksl.com(opens in a new tab)
- Fox News: Tyler Robinson to face trial as judge keeps death penalty on table (Sept. 1, 2026)foxnews.com(opens in a new tab)
- People via Yahoo: Judge sets trial date for Tyler Robinsonyahoo.com(opens in a new tab)
