A Utah judge has held a prosecutor in contempt of court for making public comments about the ongoing murder case of Charlie Kirk. Judge Tony Graf ruled on Friday that the statements made by prosecutors to media outlets violated his standing orders regarding what parties can discuss outside of court.

The contempt finding stems from remarks made by Deputy Utah County Attorney Christopher Ballard, who defense lawyers accused of conducting a “media tour” to discuss ballistics evidence and assert the prosecution had sufficient proof of defendant Tyler Robinson’s guilt. Robinson, 23, faces an aggravated murder charge in the September 10 assassination of Kirk, a prominent political ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ballard had reportedly spoken to the media to address preliminary ballistics findings that initially did not match a bullet fragment with the suspected murder weapon. This led to some news reports questioning the prosecution's case and fueling unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about a potential second shooter or a staged death.

While Judge Graf found the prosecutor’s actions to be in violation of court rules, he denied a defense request to remove the death penalty as a potential punishment for Robinson. The judge deemed such a sanction “grossly disproportionate” to the misconduct, suggesting the issue could be better addressed through jury selection processes designed to identify and exclude biased potential jurors.

Legal experts had previously indicated that removing the death penalty would be an extreme measure for such a violation. Ballard had argued that his comments were necessary to correct misinformation and “set the record straight” regarding the inconclusive nature of the initial ballistics tests.

The case has garnered significant media attention, with both defense and prosecution lawyers previously expressing concerns about the potential for extensive media coverage and misinformation to taint the jury pool. The court's order aimed to prevent parties from making extrajudicial statements that could influence public perception or potential jurors.

Robinson, who is from southwestern Utah, has not yet entered a plea in the case. The assassination of Kirk occurred as he was addressing a large crowd at Utah Valley University. The investigation has focused on a rifle believed to be the murder weapon.

The judge's ruling underscores the delicate balance between public interest in high-profile cases and the need to ensure a fair trial, particularly in capital offense proceedings where jury impartiality is paramount.