Bryan Kohberger Set for October Hearing as He Seeks Judge’s Disqualification

Bryan Kohberger is scheduled to appear for a new hearing on October 15, 2026, at the Ada County Courthouse, as his legal battle over his 2025 guilty plea continues.

The upcoming hearing concerns a request from Kohberger’s attorneys to disqualify Judge Steven Hippler from presiding over his post-conviction proceedings.

Kohberger is seeking to withdraw his 2025 guilty plea and obtain a new trial in connection with the murders of four University of Idaho students.

In his post-conviction claims, Kohberger alleges that his former legal team pressured him into accepting the plea agreement, provided him with false or misleading information, and failed to disclose or adequately evaluate potentially favorable evidence.

His attorneys are now challenging the circumstances surrounding the plea and arguing that the court should allow him to pursue further proceedings.

The request to remove Judge Hippler adds another layer to Kohberger’s ongoing legal efforts. The October hearing will address whether Hippler should be disqualified from handling the post-conviction case.

The court has already scheduled additional proceedings for next year. In August, a status conference was set for June 3, 2027, while June 17, 2027 was reserved for an evidentiary hearing if Judge Hippler determines that such a hearing is necessary.

Those proceedings could become significant if Kohberger’s claims are allowed to move forward and the court determines that an evidentiary hearing is warranted.

Kohberger’s attempt to withdraw his guilty plea represents a major change from the agreement he accepted in 2025. His current legal arguments center on whether his former attorneys’ advice and conduct affected his decision to plead guilty.

For now, however, none of those allegations has been established as fact. The October 15 hearing is expected to focus specifically on the request to disqualify Judge Hippler, while the broader challenge to Kohberger’s guilty plea remains pending.

The upcoming hearing could therefore determine an important procedural issue in Kohberger’s effort to reopen his case and potentially pursue a new trial.

Source: NY Post