Bryan Kohberger, convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students, is set to return to court to request the dismissal of Judge Steven Hippler from his case. He aims to overturn his guilty plea through post-conviction relief proceedings. Kohberger, aged 31, filed a handwritten petition claiming ineffective counsel. He argues that his guilty plea was not entered voluntarily and was influenced by unfulfilled promises and pressures from his legal team.
Attorney Greg Rauch from Moscow, Idaho, and private defense lawyer Jason Goldman from New York have joined his legal team. They plan to submit an amended petition by November 13, coinciding with the four-year anniversary of the murders. Goldman expressed hope that the evidentiary hearing will address ongoing constitutional concerns related to Kohberger’s plea.
In recent developments, Judge Steven Hippler denied attempts to remove the death penalty from possible sentences if Kohberger is convicted in a jury trial. Kohberger initially confessed to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. The victims, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were fatally stabbed. Kohberger accepted a plea deal on July 2, 2025, to avoid the death penalty, resulting in four consecutive life sentences without parole and an additional ten years.
A recent motion filed by Rauch questions Hippler’s impartiality, largely due to his refusal to extend time for Kohberger’s defense team for discovery. The motion also highlights specific language used by Hippler, which portrayed a lack of redeeming qualities in Kohberger. This has led to calls for his disqualification from the case.
The prosecution, through Deputy Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl, has requested transcripts from previous hearings, wherein Kohberger confessed and affirmed his plea was made knowingly and without coercion. Meanwhile, Hippler ordered Kohberger’s legal team to justify sealing a supplemental filing related to their motion. This document remains confidential and unreleased, pending further justification.
The hearing to disqualify Judge Hippler is scheduled for October 15 at 1:30 p.m. MT and will be conducted via WebEx. The outcome may significantly affect Kohberger’s ongoing legal proceedings.