Erika Kirk asks court for speedy trial in Tyler Robinson case
Bethany Baker, The Salt Lake Tribune
Tyler Robinson, left, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, sits beside defense attorney Kathryn Nester during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, is calling for Provo’s 4th District Court to speed up the trial of Tyler Robinson, who is charged by the state with her husband’s murder.
In a court document filed Friday through her representation, Erika Kirk called for the invocation of the Speedy Trial Act, citing Utah Code that says victims of a crime are afforded “the right to a speedy disposition of the charges free from unwarranted delay caused by or at the behest of the defendant.”
“Nobody believed in the importance of the United States Constitution more than Charlie Kirk,” the invocation said. “And although the United States Constitution guarantees criminal defendants many rights, it does not guarantee them the right to cause undue delay in the criminal justice process. The Defendant in this case is entitled to a fair trial, and he must be given one, but he is not entitled to cause undue delay to the criminal justice process.”
Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, faces seven criminal charges, including aggravated murder, after he allegedly shot and killed Charlie Kirk at a Sept. 10 event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
A number of pretrial motions have been filed by Robinson’s defense team over the rights to a fair trial and public access to the case.
Erika Kirk’s request came the same day the court considered a motion from the defense to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office from the case due to a conflict of interest, alleging bias because one of the county prosecutor’s adult children was present at the event where Charlie Kirk was shot.
Witness testimony in the hearing was delayed because at the start of the hearing, Robinson’s team alleged the Utah County Attorney’s office is not in the position to represent its own interests in the matter.
Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray called the defense’s request “an ambush and another stalling tactic to delay these proceedings.”
After a lengthy recess Judge Tony F. Graf ruled to continue the hearing as planned, but witness testimony was not completed, and further proceedings were postponed to Feb. 3.
A motion was also filed Friday by Robinson’s team asking the court to exclude cameras, still photographers and microphones from from the court room.
