OREM, Utah – The murder case against the man accused of killing conservative speaker Charlie Kirk is already facing major legal hurdles — from questions about defense funding to whether the crime even qualifies for the death penalty under Utah law.

Tyler Robinson, 22, is being held without bail at the Utah County Jail. Prosecutors say he climbed onto a rooftop at Utah Valley University, shot Kirk from about 200 yards away and fled before surrendering near his home in Washington, Utah.

Defending Robinson is proving to be no simple task. Utah requires attorneys in death penalty cases to have prior trial and capital case experience, and at least two must be appointed. That level of commitment can consume a year or more of full-time work, experts told Fox News Digital, forcing lawyers to set aside other clients and personal obligations.

“It’s a huge undertaking to represent someone in a case like this,” Utah criminal defense lawyer Randall Spencer, who has handled multiple capital cases, told Fox News Digital. “It really is a sacrifice for defense attorneys who take on this kind of work.”

Even if the death penalty is pursued, Spencer said the process could take years, with long appeals and significant emotional strain for everyone involved.

Robinson is set to appear in Utah County court on Sept. 29 for a hearing where he must decide whether to challenge the evidence at a preliminary hearing or proceed directly to arraignment. If the case advances, Rice said the court will determine probable cause before Robinson enters a plea.

Even if prosecutors pursue the death penalty, experts said appeals and delays could stretch the case out for years. More likely, they noted, Robinson could eventually agree to a plea deal to avoid trial.

“The system will play out in a fair way,” Spencer said.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has said that the state plans to seek the death penalty if the case moves forward to trial. President Donald Trump also weighed in, saying he hopes Robinson receives the death penalty if convicted.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.