Utah Judge Denies Motion to Disqualify Prosecutors in Kirk Killing

A Utah judge has denied a defense motion to disqualify the entire Utah County Attorney's Office from prosecuting Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a campus event last year. The ruling, issued Tuesday by Fourth District Judge Tony Graf, clears the way for prosecutors to continue pursuing the death penalty against the 22-year-old Robinson in connection with the September 10, 2025, killing at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Robinson faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated murder as a capital offense, reckless discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice for allegedly hiding the rifle used in the shooting and discarding his clothing, two counts of witness tampering for pressuring a roommate to delete messages and remain silent, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child. Authorities say Robinson fired from a rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck while the activist was speaking to a crowd in a courtyard area. Kirk was pronounced dead later that evening at Timpanogos Regional Hospital.

The defense motion centered on an alleged conflict of interest involving Chad...