Utah Judge Holds Prosecutor in Contempt Over TMZ Comments, Keeps Death Penalty Bid
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jun 26
Utah Judge Holds Prosecutor in Contempt Over TMZ Comments, Keeps Death Penalty Bid
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 26
Summary
Judge Tony Graf found Utah County prosecutor Christopher Ballard in civil contempt after he told TMZ prosecutors had ample evidence against Tyler Robinson regardless of an inconclusive bullet-fragment test.
Graf said the comments violated court rules meant to protect a fair jury pool, and he ordered steps to limit potential taint if Robinson's case goes to trial.
Defense lawyers had asked the court to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty, but Graf rejected that request as too severe a sanction for the media violation.
Robinson, 23, is accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk from a rooftop at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, in a killing prosecutors still plan to pursue as a capital case.