Utah judge to decide whether prosecutors should be disqualified in Charlie Kirk case

A Utah judge will rule on whether prosecutors should be disqualified from the case of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk because a prosecutor's daughter witnessed the shooting; a preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for mid‑May.

A Utah judge is expected to rule on Tuesday on whether prosecutors from the Utah County Attorney's Office should be disqualified from the prosecution of the man accused in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Defense attorneys say the challenge rests on the fact that an 18‑year‑old daughter of a senior deputy prosecutor witnessed the shooting. Prosecutors, including deputy Chad Grunander, testified that the daughter's presence did not affect the office's decision to seek the death penalty. There has been no public court filing naming an alternative prosecutor if the judge disqualifies the county team. Key facts: - Judge Tony Graf is set to rule on the disqualification challenge. - Defense attorneys say a senior prosecutor's 18‑year‑old daughter witnessed the September 10 shooting and cite the office's quick move to seek the death penalty as a potential conflict. - Deputy prosecutor Chad Grunander testified that his daughter's presence did not influence the decision to seek the death penalty. - The defendant, Tyler Robinson, is charged with aggravated murder, witness tampering and obstruction; he will not enter a plea until after a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for mid‑May. Summary: The judge's ruling will decide whether the Utah County Attorney's Office continues to prosecute this case, which could affect who handles the matter going forward. The next procedural milestone is the preliminary hearing, tentatively set for mid‑May.