Kohberger's Idaho court hearings canceled as legal fight extends

Three upcoming hearings for Bryan Kohberger, the convicted Idaho student killer, have been unexpectedly vacated. Jason Goldman, a New York attorney representing Kohberger's family, stated that this move marks the start of a longer post-conviction relief process. Judge Steven Hippler has issued an amended scheduling order that is expected to clarify the status of these vacated proceedings, though the order has not yet been made public.

The first of the canceled hearings was scheduled for Thursday. It was initially set to address a motion filed by Greg Rauch, Kohberger's new Idaho lawyer, seeking to disqualify Hippler from the case over concerns of potential bias. Two additional hearings set for next year have also been vacated, and a series of deadlines in coming months are expected to be impacted by the new scheduling order.

Kohberger was arrested on Dec. 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. The attack occurred in a home invasion at an off-campus rental home near school grounds. Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University at the time of his arrest.

In July 2025, Kohberger accepted a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He did not provide a motive or explanation when pleading guilty. A year later, he petitioned the court to withdraw his plea, claiming he had ineffective counsel and had been misled into pleading out. In a handwritten motion for post-conviction relief filed in July, Kohberger claimed he was innocent.