Bryan Kohberger Hearings Canceled Amid Mystery, Lawyer Calls it a 'Start'

Hearings for Bryan Kohberger, the former criminology student accused in the murders of four University of Idaho students, have been abruptly canceled, leaving the reasons for the cancellations unclear. The scheduled virtual court appearance on Thursday was to be the first step in Kohberger's bid to withdraw his guilty plea and proclaim his innocence.

Judge Steven Hippler also vacated two other hearings, a status conference and an evidentiary hearing, both slated for June 2027. An amended order reflecting these changes was quietly added to the court docket Tuesday. The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves stated they had not been informed of the cancellations or their reasons.

Requests for information to the court, prosecution, and defense teams remained unanswered as of Wednesday morning. Jason Goldman, an attorney representing Kohberger's family, issued a statement saying the delay "simply marks the start of a longer post-conviction relief process."

The canceled hearing was set to address the defense's motion to disqualify Judge Hippler. Kohberger's new legal team argued that the judge demonstrated bias in his handling of the case, citing his refusal to delay the trial and comments made during sentencing where he called Kohberger a "faceless coward."

Prosecutors countered these claims, arguing that a judge must form strong opinions during sentencing. The defense also contended that Judge Hippler proceeded with the case despite their need for more preparation time, partly due to Kohberger's alleged difficulty comprehending rulings. The judge denied a request for more time on June 26, 2025, six days before Kohberger entered his guilty plea.

Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without parole in July 2025 after pleading guilty to the murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The four students were killed in November 2022 at a Moscow, Idaho, residence. Kohberger was arrested six weeks later, with DNA from a knife sheath found at the scene leading to his identification.

Despite the guilty plea and waiver of appeal rights, Kohberger has recently claimed innocence. In communications with The New York Times and court filings, he stated his previous defense team misled him into accepting the plea agreement. His new attorney, Gregory Rauch, has until November 13, the four-year anniversary of the murders, to file an amended petition seeking a new trial. Kohberger's family has expressed support for his pursuit of a trial, stating they "need to see that the complete and unvarnished truth is told."