Three upcoming hearings for Bryan Kohberger have been abruptly vacated, a development that his family's attorney says signals the start of a protracted legal process. The cancellation includes a hearing originally set for Thursday to address a motion from Kohberger's new Idaho lawyer, Greg Rauch, who sought to disqualify Judge Steven Hippler from the case on grounds of potential bias. Jason Goldman, a New York attorney representing Kohberger's family, stated that this move simply marks the beginning of a longer post-conviction relief process.
The vacated hearings were part of a schedule that included two additional sessions set for next year. A series of deadlines in the coming months are also expected to be impacted by an amended scheduling order from Judge Hippler. While that order is expected to provide more details on the changes, it has not yet been made public. Rauch's motion to have Hippler disqualified stems from concerns about the judge's impartiality, a dispute that had previously drawn attention when prosecutors objected to Kohberger's attempts to boot the judge, who had referred to him as a "faceless coward" in prior proceedings.
Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, in connection with the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. The victims were Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; Xana Kernodle, 20; and Ethan Chapin, 20. They were killed in a home invasion attack at an off-campus rental home near the university grounds. At the time of his arrest at his parents' house in Pennsylvania, Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University, located approximately 10 miles away and across the state line from the University of Idaho.
In July 2025, Kohberger accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He gave no motive or explanation when he pleaded guilty. However, in July of the following year, he filed a handwritten motion for post-conviction relief claiming he was innocent. In that filing, he alleged he had received ineffective counsel and had been misled into accepting the plea. The current cancellation of hearings occurs as this legal battle continues, with the amended scheduling order pending release.