An attorney with deep ties to Mississippi has been appointed to represent Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk, in court.
Kathryn Nester was selected by the Utah County Commission to represent Robinson under a contract that appoints legal counsel to defendants who are unable to afford a lawyer from a private firm. Robinson is charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child in connection with Kirk’s killing at a Sept. 10 speaking event at Utah Valley University.
The accused murderer is being tried in Utah’s Fourth District Court. Nester, who is currently a partner at Nester Lewis PLLC in Salt Lake City, once practiced law in the Magnolia State. From 2005-11, she was an assistant federal public defender in the Southern District of Mississippi. Before that, she handled both civil and criminal law cases in Jackson for more than a decade.
Throughout her career, Nester has tried over 60 civil and criminal jury trials to verdict, including death penalty cases, wrongful death, complex fraud, employment litigation, and civil rights cases. The Robinson case, however, is likely her highest profile one to date. Robinson, who is being held in jail without bond, will next appear in court on Monday, Sept. 29.
Over the weekend, Tens of thousands of people, including President Donald Trump, packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., to mourn Kirk’s death. During the slain 31-year-old’s celebration of life service, Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, said she has forgiven Robinson.
Continuing the influencer’s legacy, the organization he founded — Turning Point USA — is currently embarking on its “American Comeback Tour,” with high-profile figures of the conservative movement and elected officials speaking at college campuses across the nation. A stop at Ole Miss is scheduled for Oct. 29.
