Three Upcoming Hearings Vacated in Idaho Student Murders Case
Three upcoming court hearings for convicted Idaho student killer Bryan Kohberger have been unexpectedly vacated, marking what a family attorney describes as the start of a much longer post-conviction legal battle. Judge Steven Hippler issued an amended scheduling order that cleared the dates, including a Thursday proceeding initially scheduled to weigh a defense motion to disqualify the judge over potential bias.
Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, following the November 2022 home invasion stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students at an off-campus rental house on King Road in Moscow, Idaho. The victims were Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. At the time of his arrest at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania, Kohberger was a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, located about 10 miles away across the state line.
Disqualification Motion and the Amended Scheduling Order
Thursday’s canceled hearing was set to address a request filed by Kohberger’s new Idaho lawyer, Greg Rauch, asking Judge Hippler to step down from the case. The defense motion pointed to concerns regarding potential bias. Two additional hearings scheduled for next year were also cleared from the calendar under the new order, which is expected to reshape upcoming legal deadlines.
Judge Hippler’s amended scheduling order has not yet been made public, leaving the exact timeline for future proceedings unclear. Jason Goldman, a New York attorney representing Kohberger’s family, emphasized that the canceled dates signal an extended judicial review. “This simply marks the start of a longer post-conviction relief process,” Goldman said.
Plea Deal Withdrawal and Post-Conviction Claims
The vacated hearings follow Kohberger’s July 2025 sentencing at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho. He had entered a guilty plea to avoid the death penalty, offering no motive or explanation for the attacks at the time. A year later, he filed a handwritten petition asking the court to withdraw the guilty plea, arguing that he is innocent, had received ineffective assistance of counsel, and was misled into accepting the deal.
Prosecutors have opposed defense efforts to remove Judge Hippler. While the original guilty plea spared Kohberger capital punishment, the post-conviction filings and subsequent schedule changes ensure the legal proceedings will continue.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Canceled Hearings
Why were the three court hearings vacated?
Judge Steven Hippler issued an amended scheduling order that cleared the dates, though the full text of the order has not yet been made public.
What was scheduled for the first vacated hearing?
Thursday’s hearing was set to address a motion from Kohberger’s new defense attorney, Greg Rauch, seeking to disqualify Judge Hippler from the case over potential bias.
What is the status of Kohberger’s guilty plea?
Kohberger pleaded guilty in July 2025 to avoid the death penalty, but he filed a handwritten motion a year later petitioning to withdraw the plea by claiming ineffective counsel and asserting his innocence.