{"id":3099,"date":"2026-07-10T17:48:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:48:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3099"},"modified":"2026-07-10T17:48:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:48:06","slug":"people-camp-outside-court-to-get-scarce-public-seats-in-hearing-on-charlie-kirks-killing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3099","title":{"rendered":"People camp outside court to get scarce public seats in hearing on Charlie Kirk&#8217;s killing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">PROVO, Utah &#8212; <\/span>Folding chairs, sleeping pads and blankets litter the entrance to the Utah courthouse each day before <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/charlie-kirk-shot-defendant-roommate-hearing-319ab579594aa6591820e7b06e595cf9\">a preliminary hearing<\/a> for the man charged with killing conservative activist <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a\">Charlie Kirk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">People have been lining up early \u2014 sometimes sleeping there overnight \u2014 in hopes of getting a wristband that will allow them access to the courtroom. The 14 coveted seats reserved for the public are first come, first served.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The weeklong preliminary hearing for <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/video\/utah-sheriff-describes-how-suspect-tyler-robinson-turned-himself-in-to-law-enforcement-156ae582ee834a689af98f2d102ab121\">Tyler Robinson<\/a> has attracted intense national and significant international attention. Wall-to-wall media coverage through livestreams and daily updates has fueled the mix of curiosity and scrutiny that has prompted many spectators to angle for a spot in the courtroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The hearing is expected to wrap up Friday. State District Judge Tony Graf then will decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence to bring Robinson to trial on an aggravated murder charge. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Chris Palmer, the court\u2019s director of security, warned Thursday morning that people can no longer bring tents or other camping supplies to the courthouse steps. And there&#8217;s no jumping the line or saving places, he told those waiting outside.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Once inside, there are more rules spectators must follow aside from simply being respectful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThese people come here to get justice,\u201d Palmer told those waiting. \u201cThey don&#8217;t need to feel like they&#8217;re under a microscope when somebody&#8217;s sitting behind them or ahead of them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">It&#8217;s a kind of controlled chaos, as sheriff&#8217;s deputies and court staff hand out wristbands each morning. Beyond the line, reporters and bloggers are armed with cellphones, scanning the entrances in hopes of documenting the arrival of Kirk&#8217;s family or Robinson&#8217;s, or other notable names, such as the president\u2019s son Donald Trump Jr. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Earlier in the week, court staff warned that wristbands for public seating were being labeled because security discovered some people bought colored wristbands to sneak in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Joshua Carr, a local who described himself as an independent journalist, was first in line Thursday. A friend of his arrived at 9 p.m. the night before to hold the spot until Carr arrived at 2:30 a.m. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Carr has been covering the case and the <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fact-check-charlie-kirk-shot-assassination-3354b7ba0d736c198b454f77b3744308\">conspiracy theories<\/a> that surround it for a few months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cBeing in the courtroom is a different thing because you&#8217;re able to actually feel the emotions, see the expressions on people&#8217;s faces that aren&#8217;t shown in the public feed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Billie Webb, who made the trip from Salt Lake City, has been following the investigation since Kirk <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd\">was shot Sept. 10<\/a> and attended hearings earlier this year on motions filed by prosecutors and defense attorneys.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Webb arrived at 5 a.m. Wednesday and found herself eighth in line because the proceedings didn&#8217;t start until the afternoon. She missed the cutoff Thursday despite showing up at 3 a.m. but said she was \u201cabsolutely determined\u201d to get in Friday. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Like others, Webb was interested in hearing a recorded law enforcement interview with Robinson\u2019s roommate and romantic partner, Lance Twiggs, noting that attorneys had argued much of Wednesday over whether it would be made public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Webb also wants to be there if the case goes to trial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cIf I have to camp for 24 hours, I will,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \"><a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/charlie-kirk-murder-trial-cameras-bb791cb4c22168a6e1dd9bc106d81215\">Public and media frenzy<\/a> over high-profile cases is nothing new. It&#8217;s usually driven by celebrity, politics, race or sensational crime elements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">One early example was the 1935 trial in New Jersey of the man charged with kidnapping and killing legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh\u2019s baby, which drew crowds and cameras. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \"><a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/oj-simpson-dies-american-culture-3610d214475cc680bdecaa14d74f4605\">O.J. Simpson\u2019s<\/a> double murder case captured attention in the 1990s. It was widely referred to by the public and the media as the \u201cTrial of the Century.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">More recently, public lines, protests and media presence have followed cases that include <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/derek-chauvin-sentencing-23c52021812168c579b3886f8139c73d\">Derek Chauvin<\/a>, the former police officer who was sentenced in 2021 to more than two decades in prison for the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">That same year, people were lining up for seats in a Manhattan federal courtroom for the trial of <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-fa2c504a6dfe30ce1686b857a4123b7b\">British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell<\/a>. She was convicted of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the American millionaire <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/jeffrey-epstein\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a>. ___ Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PROVO, Utah &#8212; Folding chairs, sleeping pads and blankets litter the entrance to the Utah courthouse each day before a preliminary hearing for the man charged with killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. People have been lining up early \u2014 sometimes sleeping there overnight \u2014 in hopes of getting a wristband that will allow them access&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/dccaef71-e388-4df0-8bf5-33a99a24edf6\/wirestory_4402ad4f997bcf5da08440db935c366e_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}