Bryan Kohberger, convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students, is set to appear in court on October 15 for a hearing regarding his motion to have Judge Steven Hippler removed from his case. Kohberger aims to overturn his guilty plea through post-conviction relief.
Kohberger, now 31, submitted a handwritten petition in July, arguing that his counsel was ineffective. He claimed that his guilty plea was not made willingly or knowingly, influenced by unmet promises and threats from his legal counsel.
Since then, attorney Greg Rauch of Moscow, Idaho, along with Jason Goldman, a defense lawyer from New York, have joined Kohberger’s defense team. Kohberger had previously offered this petition, asserting issues with the plea process.
Defense Costs: Kohberger’s defense has cost taxpayers over $8 million. He appeared in court for sentencing in July 2025, after pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty.
His new legal team plans to file an amended petition by November 13, coinciding with the anniversary of the murders.
We believe the amended petition and evidentiary hearing will naturally address some of the outstanding and unanswered questions,” said Goldman.
The focus remains on examining constitutional issues linked to Kohberger’s previous plea.
Judge Steven Hippler, of Idaho’s 4th Judicial District in Ada County, had earlier refused to dismiss the death penalty as an option if Kohberger is convicted by a jury for the 2022 murders.
In July 2025, Kohberger admitted guilt for the murder of four students, Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, ages 20 and 21. He accepted a plea deal that included life imprisonment without parole and an additional 10-year sentence, thereby circumventing the death penalty.
Judge Impartiality: Attorney Greg Rauch filed a 22-page motion on August 27, questioning Judge Hippler’s impartiality. Kohberger’s former defense team was denied additional time to complete discovery as the trial date neared last year.
Kohberger’s guilty plea was submitted weeks before the trial’s anticipated commencement. Rauch challenged specific language used by Hippler during sentencing, describing Kohberger as lacking ‘good or intrinsically human’ characteristics.
Legal Proceedings: Deputy Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl is fighting Kohberger’s post-conviction relief petition. Scholl has requested hearing transcripts where Kohberger admitted his guilt willingly and free from any pressure.
- In a separate directive, Hippler set September 10 as the deadline for Kohberger’s attorneys to justify sealing a supplementary filing related to their motion to disqualify him.
- The confidential document must be shared with the Latah County Prosecutor’s office and will remain sealed for the foreseeable future, pending further clarification.
The disqualification hearing will take place on Thursday, October 15, at 1:30 p.m. MT through WebEx.