Defense Pushes to Change Court Attire for Accused in High-Profile Utah Shooting

The lawyer representing 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, accused of the deadly shooting at Utah Valley University, requested that he be allowed to wear civilian clothing during court proceedings. This appeal was based on the claim that photographs of Robinson in prison jumpsuits and shackles could influence potential jurors to wrongly associate his attire with guilt and the death penalty, especially given the case’s extensive media coverage.

The motion highlights that Robinson was seen in a virtual hearing last month wearing a “suicide smock,” which could further bias jurors against him. The defense argued that such images make it difficult to ensure a fair trial, referencing a recent case involving Bryan Kohberger, who was granted permission to appear in court in a suit and without restraints in his highly publicized death penalty case.

“In a case inundated with media reports, continuous display of the defendant in jail clothing and restraints can lead jurors to presuppose guilt and eligibility for execution,” the motion states. It emphasizes that the visibility of pretrial incarceration signs may unfairly sway juror perceptions, especially as the case draws more attention online.

Robinson is accused of killing Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10. The accused has yet to enter a plea, but faces charges of aggravated murder and other offenses, with the possibility of the death penalty under Utah law, which is one of five states employing firing squads as a form of capital punishment.

Despite the courtroom appearance, Robinson was sentenced in July to life imprisonment without parole for the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.

He is scheduled to return to court on October 30 for further proceedings.