Bryan Kohberger argued that Judge Steven Hippler should be removed from his post-conviction relief case for crying during his murder sentencing.
Hippler was previously set to preside over Kohberger’s criminal case when he was first accused of killing Idaho college students Ethan Chapin, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in November 2022. Kohberger, 31, avoided trial when he pleaded guilty to four counts of murder as part of a plea deal in July 2025, and Hippler sentenced him to serve four life sentences in prison.
One year later, Kohberger filed a petition to withdraw his guilty plea in hopes of the case going to trial.
Kohberger’s attorney Gregory Rauch argued in a recent reply motion to disqualify Hippler that certain comments and actions made by the judge on the day the defendant was sentenced should disqualify him from this current case, according to the filing viewed by People.
The motion pointed out that Hippler said during the sentencing that “even if I could force [Kohberger] to speak, which legally I cannot, how can anyone ever be assure that what he speaks is the truth?”
Rauch argued in the filing that the comment “questioned [Kohberger’s] entire capacity for truthfulness and predicted deception in an explanation not yet even given.”
He went on to say that Hippler’s “stated distrust” would make it hard to determine if he found “particular testimony is false” or “made an advanced judgment about [Kohberger’s] capacity to tell the truth.”
Rauch also cited reports that Hippler had wiped tears away from his eyes while sentencing Kohberger to prison. The attorney argued that the “cumulative appearance of partiality” made Hippler unfit to preside over the case moving forward.
Another argument made by Rauch was that Hippler put Kohberger and his first legal team at a disadvantage when he denied the defense’s request for more time in June 2025. Kohberger went on to plead guilty six days after Hippler made the ruling.
As Kohberger’s defense fights to bring his case to trial, Rauch said Hippler’s denial for an extension will be a focal point as they work to determine “whether trial counsel has sufficient time and assistance to ensure that Kohberger rationally understood the circumstances.”
Hippler has not yet formally responded to the filing.
The future of the case is not yet currently known. Arguments in Kohberger’s bid for post-conviction relief were initially scheduled to take place in June, but have been pushed back at least two more months.
