BOISE, Idaho – An Idaho judge has issued a stern warning to attorneys involved in the high-profile murder case of a man accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, urging them to reduce the number of sealed documents filed in the case.
Fourth District Judge Steven Hippler expressed concerns that the prevalence of secrecy, employed by both defense attorneys and prosecutors, undermines the public’s First Amendment right to access court proceedings. In a recent court order, Hippler instructed the legal teams to adopt less restrictive measures to safeguard confidential information, such as redacting sensitive details and using initials instead of full names.
Bryan Kohberger faces four murder charges in connection with the deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves, who were tragically killed early on November 13, 2022, at a rental home in Moscow, Idaho. After initially remaining silent when asked to enter a plea, a judge entered a not-guilty plea on Kohberger’s behalf. Prosecutors have indicated their intention to pursue the death penalty if he is convicted.
Judge Hippler’s directive coincides with a surge of new motions filed in anticipation of the upcoming trial set for August, including a sealed defense motion seeking to remove the death penalty due to claims of autism spectrum disorder.
Additional sealed motions address the potential admissibility of terms like “psychopath” and “sociopath” during the trial and discuss the presence of immediate family members in the courtroom. The judge has ruled that some currently sealed documents will be redacted and made public, while others will remain confidential.
The trial is anticipated to commence on August 11 and is expected to extend over a period of more than three months.
