Judge Graf โฃVows Fair Process in Tyler Robinson Prosecution
Fourth District Court Judge Tony F. โGraf Jr. has affirmed his commitment to ensuring aโ just legal โขprocess for Tyler Robinson, the man accused in the shooting of Charlie Kirk. This declaration comes amid โคpublic calls for the deathโ penalty from prominent figures, including Utah Governor Spencer cox and former President Donald Trump.
Judge Graf, according to his biography on the state courts’ website, hasโข a diverse legal background. Prior โto his โคjudgeship, he ledโข the special victims unit in โขthe Utah County Attorney’s Office and โขservedโฃ as a deputy districtโ attorney for Salt โขLake County.โฃ His experience also includes roles as assistant attorney general in American Samoa,โค aโ deputy district attorney in Lincolnโข County, Nevada, and special assistant โfor the U.S. attorney’s office inโฃ Washington D.C. He previously served as president ofโ the utah Minority โBar Association.
Robinson, who has been persistent unable to afford private counsel, will be represented by a court-appointed โlegal team. Last week, the Utah County Commission approved a contract for attorney Deborah Nester to represent him. Nester has experience in capital cases, โhaving been leadโ or co-counsel in nine aggravated murder cases, including a federal case in Utah.โข
Supporting โNester are two California attorneys specializing in death penalty defense: Michaelโข N. Burt, a resourceโ counsel for federal death penalty cases sence โข2001, and Richard G. Novak, who has been lead or co-counsel in over 25 death-eligible cases in federal courts across Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, โฃand California.
Utah County โคofficials estimate the prosecution and defense ofโ Robinson’s case could exceed $1 million. The โprosecution team includes Utah County Attorneys Ryan McBride, Lauren Hunt, and David Sturgill, all with experience in homicide and sex crimes. Chris ballard, another deputy Utah County Attorney, previously focused on criminal appeals for โคthe Utah attorney general’s office.
Judge Graf’s statement addresses concerns raised afterโฃ Governorโค Cox called for the death penalty on twoโ occasions – the day of the shooting and theโฃ following evening, before Robinson’s booking. Former President Trump also publicly advocated for Robinson’s executionโฃ on September 12th, the day of his arrest.
Utah โฃdefense attorneyโฃ Mark Moffat, not involved โฃin theโ case, previously told The Salt Lake Tribune that such statements create “public pressure and public expectation โthat theโ death penalty is going to be pursued.” Utah County Attorney David Gray, announcing the charges โand intent to pursue the death penalty, stated his decision was made “independentlyโฆbased solely on the available evidence and circumstancesโข and natureโค of the crime.”