Why a longtime Utah defense attorney appeared in court in the Charlie Kirk murder case

A longtime Utah defense attorney appeared in court in the Charlie Kirk murder case but he wasn’t representing the man accused of killing the conservative political activist.

Greg Skordas, who co-hosts “Inside Sources” on KSL Newsradio, appeared on behalf of Utah County to request a lawyer for Tyler James Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense.

Robinson made his first appearance in 4th District Court in Provo on Tuesday via video conference from the Utah County Jail where he is being held without bail. He showed no emotion as Judge Tony Graf read the charges against him. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray is pursuing the death penalty.

“I’m not entering an appearance. I’m not counsel on this case. I’m working with the county here to get counsel assigned but we need you to allow for the appointment of counsel,” Skordas told the judge.

Skordas was there to ask Graf to appoint Robinson a lawyer and see that he gets one.

Handling death penalty cases

How Skordas came to be the only lawyer in the actual courtroom — everyone else appeared virtually — is somewhat convoluted.

He advises the Utah County Commission in its contract negotiations with the Utah County Public Defender Association because the county attorney’s office, which normally serves as the commission’s counsel, doesn’t want to be part of the budgeting process with its courtroom adversaries. Judges appoint public defenders to represent people accused of crimes prosecuted by the county attorney’s office. Typically those defendants don’t have the means to hire a lawyer.

Death penalty cases are not part of the county’s contract with the public defenders’ office because they’re expensive, costing at least $500,000 per case, Skordas said.

“You can’t just build something like that into a contract,” he said. “If your contract is for a certain amount and you get two death penalty cases, you couldn’t do it under terms of the contract.”

When capital cases come up, the contracts are negotiated independently with lawyers who can take the case. The public defenders’ office has lawyers qualified to work a death penalty case but in addition to not having the budget, it already has a full caseload, Skordas said.

“Their contract is full. Their attorneys are busy,” he said. “Even if I said we’re going to throw in another million dollars to take this case, they’re going to say we don’t have anybody to do it.”

Finding Robinson a lawyer

A public defender wasn’t assigned to the case before the hearing and there was no order from the judge appointing counsel. The judge has to determine whether to appoint an attorney based on whether a defendant is indigent. In the case, Graf found Robinson couldn’t afford a lawyer based on a financial statement submitted to the court.

“The judge looked at his finances and said I’m going to appoint you a lawyer. And then he said, ‘Skordas, go get one,’” Skordas said. “It’s a procedure you have to go through for appointment of counsel.”

Skordas said he expects Tuesday was the only time he’ll be in court on the case, unless he fails to get Robinson a lawyer before the next hearing on Sept. 29.

“We felt that I should be there in person to tell the judge why there wasn’t a lawyer there,” he said. “The county attorney has moved this case on a very fast track.”

Skordas said there are several groups willing to take the case but have not come to a contract arrangement yet.

“It’s not going to be a problem. I’m not worried about it. I bet we have a lawyer this week, and it’s lawyers. We always appoint at least two on capital cases,” he said.

Skordas has practiced law in Utah for 43 years, including as a public defender and a Salt Lake County prosecutor and the past 30 years in private practice. He ran unsuccessfully for Utah attorney general in 2020. In June, he and Holly Richardson became the co-hosts of the weekday morning show “Inside Sources” on KSL Newsradio.