President Donald Trump on Friday criticized the Utah judge overseeing the case against the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He did so ahead of a hearing on the trial timeline 1.
In a social media post, Trump accused the judge of mishandling the case and said it should be tried within a month. He also claimed the proceedings were undermining Kirk's memory 1.
The whole Country is mocking him and our ‘Legal’ System
What the hearing is about
The defendant, Tyler Robinson, 23, was scheduled to appear Friday before Utah District Judge Tony Graf. The hearing was meant to address the trial schedule, and Graf's decision was expected to be a key outcome 1.
Earlier this month, Graf ordered both sides to come ready to set trial dates. His order also required them to estimate preparation time, trial length and the number of jurors needed 2.
From Channel GOPTrump says he alone decides who gets paidDonald Trump · 135 plays · captioned, with the source named
Counsel shall be prepared to explain their proposals and address any scheduling objections.
Prosecutors have proposed a trial date of January 31, 2028. Robinson's defense attorneys have asked for a start in the third quarter of 2029. They cite the extensive preparation needed in a complex death penalty case 1.
Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has urged the court to set a trial as early as possible in 2027 1.
The charges
Robinson is accused of shooting Kirk from a rooftop roughly 415 feet away. Kirk was speaking at an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10, 2025. Robinson surrendered to authorities a day later 1.
He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if he is convicted 12. Prosecutors allege he told his romantic partner he "had enough of [Kirk's] hatred" 1. Those are allegations, not findings.
Why it matters
That matters because a judge is supposed to set a schedule based on the law and the facts. Public pressure from the nation's most powerful official is not supposed to be a factor. The president's post came on the same day as the hearing, while the judge's decision was still pending 1.
The dates now on the table are far apart. Prosecutors want January 2028, the defense wants 2029, and the president wants a trial within a month 1. Even a defense lawyer with no role in the case told KSL the trial may not start for at least a year, and possibly not until 2028 2.
The proposed schedule is not binding, and attorneys can ask for changes 2. The wire reports did not say whether Graf had ruled on a trial date by the time of publication, so that remains unconfirmed. We also did not find a response from Democrats to the president's post in the coverage we reviewed.
What happens next is Graf's ruling on the schedule. Whatever date he sets, he will be doing it with the president's public criticism on the record 1.
The Record
Sources
- Newsweek, “Trump Attacks Utah Judge Deciding Trial Date Over Charlie Kirk's Killing” (2026-10-23). newsweek.com/trump-attacks-utah-judge-deciding-trial-date-ov
- KSL, “Judge in Tyler Robinson case wants attorneys ready to set trial dates” (2026-10-05). ksl.com/article/51632514/judge-in-tyler-robinson-case-wants-
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