A Utah judge on Monday scheduled the capital murder trial of Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to begin in the summer of 2028, rejecting the defense's request to postpone proceedings until 2029.

District Judge Tony Graf set jury selection for June 21, 2028, with 105 court days reserved for the proceedings. The trial is expected to begin nearly three years after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025.

Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges, including aggravated murder, and could face the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors allege he fired a rifle from a rooftop overlooking an outdoor gathering of several thousand people, striking Kirk as he addressed the crowd.

The schedule represents a compromise between prosecutors, who proposed beginning the trial in January 2028, and defense attorneys, who requested a start date in the third quarter of 2029. Prosecutors estimated the proceedings would last approximately 17 weeks, while Robinson's attorneys anticipated a trial lasting six to seven months.

The defense argued that additional time was necessary to review tens of thousands of evidence files, investigate the case, prepare challenges to the death penalty and potentially seek a change of venue. Attorneys have also raised questions about the reliability of forensic evidence and the prosecution's account of Robinson's alleged motive.

Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, had pushed for a significantly earlier trial, arguing that prolonged proceedings were extending the emotional suffering of her family and their two young children. Her attorney, Jeffrey Neiman, told the court that repeated hearings brought renewed anxiety, pain, and mourning. The family had requested that the trial begin as early as October 2027 and urged the judge to avoid further unnecessary delays.

The family's concerns also included the growing taxpayer expense of Robinson's publicly funded defense, which had reportedly reached approximately $1.6 million. Following Monday's ruling, the family described the decision as deeply disappointing, saying every additional day without a resolution prolongs their suffering.

Prosecutors have alleged that Robinson was motivated by hostility toward Kirk's political and social views. They have also cited messages Robinson allegedly sent to his roommate following the shooting. The defense has challenged the prosecution's explanation of his motive and disputed aspects of the evidence.

Graf previously ruled in September that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial on the aggravated murder charge and the other counts. The case will now move toward additional pretrial proceedings, including disputes over evidence, jury selection, and whether the trial should be moved to another location.

President Donald Trump, who was politically aligned with Kirk, has also called for a faster resolution. In an October social media post, Trump criticized the pace of the proceedings and argued that Robinson should be tried within a month.

Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA and became one of the country's most prominent conservative commentators and organizers, helping mobilize young voters in support of Trump and Republican candidates. His September 2025 assassination at Utah Valley University prompted widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about politically motivated violence.