In a recent development, Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has stepped into the fray advocating for courtroom cameras in the case of Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Grassley, a long-time proponent of permitting cameras in federal courtrooms where they are currently prohibited, referred to Kirk's assassination as a "pivotal moment in history," arguing that such significant cases should unfold under public scrutiny.
According to Fox News, Grassley praised Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk, for her heartfelt appeal to allow courtroom cameras during the trial of her husband's alleged killer. "I want to compliment Erika Kirk, wife of assassinated conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
She has made an emotional appeal to have cameras in the courtroom at the trial of her husbands [alleged] murderer," he stated on the Senate floor. "I commend her for this brave plea, because it fits in with a stand Ive been taking for the last couple of decades."
While most states, including Utah, permit courtroom cameras or at least leave the decision to the discretion of judges, federal courts remain camera-free. Robinson is currently facing state-level charges. In a motion filed in October, Robinson's legal team argued that federal courts have consistently maintained that restrictions on courtroom cameras do not infringe on the media's First Amendment rights.
Utah Judge Tony Graf granted Robinson's request to wear civilian clothes but denied his motion to appear without shackles. He deferred a decision on the camera issue, instructing both parties to prepare new briefs. Meanwhile, Robinson has been allowed to attend his last two public hearings remotely, off-camera.
Robinson is scheduled to return to court on January 16, 2026. Thus far, Judge Graf has permitted news cameras in the courtroom and a court-operated public livestream. However, attorneys involved in the case have hinted at supporting restrictions or a complete ban on news cameras.
Erika Kirk, in a conversation with Fox News' Jesse Watters, expressed her support for the continued presence of cameras. "There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," she said. "There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear. We deserve to have cameras in there."
Royal Oakes, a Los Angeles-based media attorney who successfully advocated for news cameras in court during OJ Simpson's 1990s murder trial, stated that while criminal defendants have a right to a fair trial, they do not have a right to privacy or to downplay public interest in the case. "A more traditional argument for courtroom transparency is the right of the public to see its justice system at work," he told Fox News Digital.
"But Erika Kirk is right to call for broadcasting of court proceedings because, whether the accused is found guilty or not, citizens are entitled to observe hearings and a trial, and make up their own minds about the allegations."
In an effort to address the federal issue, Grassley has sponsored two bipartisan bills the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act, which would grant all federal judges the authority to allow cameras in their courtrooms, and the Cameras in the Courtroom Act, which would mandate the U.S. Supreme Court to televise all open sessions unless a majority of justices believe it would infringe on due process.
This move underscores the importance of transparency in the justice system, a value deeply rooted in conservative principles.
Login