A defense attorney has been appointed to represent Tyler Robinson, who is charged with shooting and killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an appearance at a Utah university earlier this month.

Kathryn Nester was chosen to represent Robinson under a contract with the Utah County Commission, which appoints lawyers for defendants who cannot afford private counsel.

"This action fulfills the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to ensure that individuals accused of a crime—who cannot afford legal representation—are provided with a qualified defense," Utah County officials said in a statement announcing the appointment.

Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child, Utah County prosecutors announced last week, saying they intend to seek the death penalty.

Nester, the defense attorney, previously served as the head of the federal public defender offices in Salt Lake City and San Diego for over 10 years, according to a biography on the webpage of her law firm.

Her law firm, Nester-Lewis, has represented another defendant in a high-profile Utah case:  Kouri Richins, the Utah mother accused of murdering her husband with a lethal dose of fentanyl, who then wrote and self-published a children's book on grief following her husband's death. Richins, who has pleaded not guilty, has yet to go to trial.

Nester's bio says she has over 30 years of experience trying cases in federal and state courtrooms, including prior capital murder cases and complex fraud cases.

Robinson is being held without bond. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 29.