Full Breakdown
New Court Date for Bryan Kohberger’s Post-Conviction Motion
9/8/2026, 10:44:06 PM
New Hearing on Judge Disqualification
A hearing is set for Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. MT via WebEx to consider Bryan Kohberger’s motion to disqualify Judge Steven Hippler from his post-conviction case. Kohberger, who pleaded guilty to four first-degree murder counts and a burglary charge for the November 2022 University of Idaho killings, seeks to undo that plea through post-conviction relief. His new legal team, led by attorney Greg Rauch and private defense lawyer Jason Goldman, will argue that the original plea was not entered knowingly or voluntarily.
Background of the Murders and Plea Deal
Kohberger, a former criminology student, was linked to the stabbing deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. He entered a guilty plea on July 2, 2025 (reported as a scheduled date in the date ledger) and was sentenced on July 23, 2025 to four consecutive life terms without parole plus an additional ten years, avoiding the death penalty as part of the plea agreement.
Legal Arguments and Prosecutorial Response
Deputy Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl has requested transcripts of the original plea hearings, asserting that Kohberger affirmed his guilt knowingly and without duress. Judge Hippler ordered Kohberger’s lawyers to justify sealing a supplemental filing by Sept. 10 and to share it with the prosecutor’s office.
Verbatim Quote
- “We think the [amended petition] and evidentiary hearing will naturally address some of the outstanding and unanswered questions,” — Jason Goldman, private defense lawyer
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the status of the July 2, 2025 date: the narrative describes Kohberger’s guilty plea as having occurred on that day, while the date ledger classifies the same date as “scheduled.” No additional sources clarify whether the plea was already entered or remains pending, leaving a discrepancy in the timeline.
