Bryan Kohberger’s new legal team is attempting to remove Judge Steven Hippler from presiding over his case due to biased statements made during sentencing, where the judge called Kohberger a “faceless coward.” Prosecutors, however, argue that these remarks do not prove bias and oppose the motion. The filings come as Kohberger challenges his guilty plea, asserting ineffective counsel and involuntary admission of guilt. A virtual hearing on this matter is scheduled for October 15.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Bryan Kohberger, a convicted murderer sentenced by Judge Steven Hippler for killing four University of Idaho students last year, is attempting to have Hippler removed from his case. At sentencing, Hippler called Kohberger a "faceless coward" and said he found nothing "good or intrinsically human" about him. The judge also expressed doubt about the murderer's ability to speak truthfully in court. Kohberger, 31, is now arguing that these comments indicate bias on the part of Judge Hippler and are trying to have him recused from the case. However, outgoing Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson, along with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl, argue that these remarks do not meet the legal threshold for proving judicial bias.
Written for “Kohberger Trial Judge” on 2026-10-09,
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Convicted University of Idaho student murderer Bryan Kohberger is trying to remove the judge who called him a "faceless coward" and said he could find nothing "good or intrinsically human" about him at sentencing — but prosecutors say those remarks don't prove bias as the former criminology student fights to undo his guilty plea.
uncertain
student → convict → plea
Judge Steven Hippler said Kohberger, 31, "slithered" into the victims' home before committing a crime that made him "the worst of the worst" after the killer admitted guilt last year.
asserted
killer → say → guilt
He also addressed the lack of a requirement that he explain himself as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
asserted
he → address → penalty
"Even if I could force him to speak, which legally I cannot, how could anyone ever be assured that what he speaks is the truth
uncertain
speaks → force → what
?" Hippler asked during sentencing.
asserted
Hippler → ask → sentencing
"Do we really believe, after all of this, he is capable of speaking the truth, or of giving up something of himself to help the very people whose lives he destroyed?
asserted
he → believe → lives
Rather, I suspect the so-called reason would be dished out in enticing self-serving and aggrandizing untruthful bits, leaving people wanting more information, more insight, and thus enhancing even further the power he seeks to hold."
asserted
he → suspect → power
The judge was also seen wiping tears from his eyes after hearing emotional victim impact statements.
asserted
judge → see → statements
Kohberger's new legal team filed a motion seeking Hippler's removal on Aug. 27, arguing he had made biased statements during the convicted killer's sentencing and had rushed the case toward trial when their client's former defense team wasn't ready.
asserted
team → file → trial
Prosecutors wrote that in order for a judge to be removed, "the motion must show that 'the judge is biased,'" italicizing for emphasis.
asserted
judge → write → emphasis
"None of petitioner's allegations against this Court — taken alone or together — have me that 'extremely high' bar," reads a filing signed by outgoing Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson, who announced his retirement earlier this week, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl.
asserted
who → take → retirement
Scholl had previously asked the court for the transcripts from Kohberger's change of plea and sentencing hearings, in which the former criminology Ph.D. student admitted guilt and affirmed he was entering his plea knowingly and under no duress.
asserted
he → ask → duress
The opposition filing argues that Hippler's statements about Kohberger after he'd admitted to killing four innocent students were not unusual or out of line.
asserted
he → argue → line
"In our case, the sentencing remarks are not enough to show bias, and the required showing of perceived bias cannot be tied to this Court's capacity to fairly adjudicate any [post-conviction relief] claims alleged in this case but rather puts this Court in the best position to adjudicate them as the legislature and the Idaho Supreme Court's rules intend
uncertain
legislature → show → them
," prosecutors wrote.
asserted
prosecutors → write → ?
Hippler has scheduled a virtual hearing on the motion for Oct. 15.
asserted
Hippler → schedule → Oct.
Kohberger filed a handwritten petition in July, telling the court he had ineffective counsel, that his guilty plea was "not knowingly or voluntarily entered because it was induced by unkept promises" and that it was "not voluntarily entered because of threats asserted by [his] legal counsel."
asserted
it → file → counsel
The court appointed attorney Greg Rauch, of Moscow, Idaho, to take over his case.
asserted
court → appoint → case
His family has also retained a private New York lawyer, Jason Goldman.
asserted
family → retain → lawyer
Hippler gave Rauch until Nov. 13 — four years to the day after the murders — to file an amended petition on Kohberger's behalf.
asserted
Hippler → give → behalf
Kohberger pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025, to four counts of first-degree murder and a burglary charge for the stabbing deaths of 21-year-olds Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves as well as 20-year-olds Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin.
asserted
Kohberger → plead → Mogen
On July 23, 2025, Hippler sentenced him to four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus another 10 years, as part of a plea deal in which Kohberger avoided the death penalty.
asserted
Kohberger → sentence → penalty
The change of plea came days after Hippler refused to grant Kohberger's former defense team more time for discovery ahead of trial.
asserted
Hippler → come → trial
Fox News' Lee Ross contributed to this report.
asserted
Ross → contribute → report
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