Kohberger hearings vacated as new lawyer seeks to disqualify judge

Right · 2Three upcoming hearings for Bryan Kohberger, convicted of killing four University of Idaho students, have been vacated. 1 2 Right · 2The first hearing, set for Thursday, was to address a motion from Kohberger's new Idaho lawyer, Greg Rauch, to have Judge Steven Hippler disqualified from the case over concerns of potential bias. 1 2 Right · 1Two other hearings set for next year have also been vacated, and a series of deadlines in coming months are expected to be affected by the new order. 1

Right · 2Judge Hippler's amended scheduling order is expected to shed more light on the cancellations, but it had not been made public at the time of reporting. 1 2 Right · 1Jason Goldman, a New York attorney representing Kohberger's family, said: "This simply marks the start of a longer post-conviction relief process." 2 Right · 2Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, about six weeks after the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. 1 2

Right · 1In July 2025 he took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. A year later he petitioned the court to withdraw it, claiming ineffective counsel and that he was misled into pleading out. 2 Right · 1He gave no motive or explanation when he pleaded guilty, and in July filed a handwritten motion for post-conviction relief claiming he was innocent. 2 Right · 1Fox News also linked to reports that prosecutors oppose the bid to remove the judge, who had called Kohberger a "faceless coward", and that he claims his family joined plea talks. 1