Judge rejects defense request to take death penalty off table for shooting of Charlie Kirk * WorldNetDaily * by Bob Unruh
Judge rejects defense request to take death penalty off table for shooting of Charlie Kirk
By Bob Unruh
A judge in Utah has rejected a defense request that the death penalty be taken off the table in the case over the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a courtroom ruling, Judge Tony Graf Jr. said that penalty would remain an option at this point in the case against suspect Tyler Robinson.
A report at Fox News said Graf also released his decision that found one of the prosecutors in the case in civil contempt over publicity about the case.
That is Deputy Utah County Attorney Chris Ballard, whose reprimand was based on statements about his opinion on the strength of evidence in the case.
Ballard also was accused of making statements where he disputed a misleading characterization of specific evidence, but the judge had no issues with those, Fox reported.
The result was the contempt finding, but a continuation of the possibility of the death sentence, which defense lawyers had demanded be removed as potential punishment.
“The court finds that striking the death penalty is grossly disproportionate to the misconduct and legally unavailable in this civil contempt framework,” the judge said.
BREAKING: A Utah judge just found one of the county prosecutors in the Tyler Robinson case in contempt for violating the court’s pre-trial publicity order.
This comes as the judge also denies Robinson’s request to remove the death penalty from the Charlie Kirk murder case.… pic.twitter.com/xYMQZ5hx92
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 26, 2026
Robinson is charged with the fatal shooting last year of Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular conservative commentator, activist and advocate.
Prosecutors had “set the record straight” earlier when they addressed what they called a misleading statement from defense lawyers about some evidence in the case.
A gag order from the court in the case did not prohibit that activity, but Ballard was accused of going further in an interview where he expressed confidence in the totality of the evidence.
Graf said that amounted to improperly sharing an opinion on Robinson’s guilt.
The report confirmed prosecutors have planned to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted of the Kirk assassination, on Sept. 10, 2025.
Bob Unruh
Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is currently a news editor for the WND News Center, and also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially. Read more of Bob Unruh's articles here.
Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
