Bryan Kohberger‘s new defense team is asking an Idaho court to remove Judge Steven Hippler from his post-conviction case and move the proceedings out of Ada County. This comes as Kohberger attempts to withdraw the guilty pleas that resulted in four life sentences. According to PEOPLE, attorney Gregory Rauch filed motions seeking Hippler’s disqualification and a change of venue. Rauch, a Moscow-based attorney with Magyar, Rauch & Thie, was appointed to represent Kohberger in his post-conviction case. New York-based criminal defense attorney Jason Goldman has also joined the defense team. The request to remove Hippler centers on statements the judge made during the criminal proceedings and sentencing. In its motion, Kohberger’s defense argues that Hippler’s comments about Kohberger’s credibility create a concern about whether the judge can impartially consider the claims now before the court. Hippler reportedly called Kohberger “the worst of the worst.” The defense specifically cited Hippler’s description of Kohberger as a “faceless coward” and “the worst of the worst.” The motion highlights previous comments in which Judge Hippler questioned whether Kohberger was “capable of speaking the truth.” It also notes that the judge characterized Kohberger’s explanations as containing “self-serving and aggrandizing untruthful bits.” Bryan Kohberger has moved to have a judge who called him a 'faceless coward' disqualified from his case as he attempts to retract his guilty plea in the murders of four University of Idaho students https://t.co/okoo1aoRAK pic.twitter.com/1Z8kjMoJ7R— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) August 29, 2026 Meanwhile, attorney Jason Goldman told PEOPLE that the defense possesses undisclosed information regarding Kohberger’s original plea. This non-public evidence relates directly to the circumstances surrounding the plea agreement. Kohberger’s guilty plea came after he faced four first-degree murder charges in the November 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. On July 2, 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty and told Hippler that he was doing so because he was guilty. He also agreed to waive his right to appeal. In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty. Hippler sentenced Kohberger on July 23, 2025, to four consecutive life sentences without parole, plus 10 years for burglary and $270,000 in fines and civil penalties. The case originated in Latah County, where four University of Idaho student murders happened. The Idaho Supreme Court transferred the criminal case to Ada County in 2024 after a change-of-venue ruling, and assigned Hippler to preside over the proceedings. According to Idaho news outlet KREM2, Kohberger’s defense team argues the hearings require testimony from local police, records custodians, and former counsel, not a jury. Moving the venue to Moscow in Latah County minimizes travel and logistical burdens, according to the attorneys. The motion to disqualify Judge Hippler also notes that he denied a request for extra prep time to investigate alternative suspects. Six days later, Kohberger pleaded guilty. Defense attorneys say this creates a conflict of interest, as Hippler would be evaluating his own prior rulings. Meanwhile, prosecutors requested transcripts from the July 2025 plea hearing. They plan to use Kohberger’s sworn statements to refute his coercion claims. Under oath, Kohberger affirmed he was pleading voluntarily and was satisfied with his legal team. Kohberger’s effort to undo his guilty plea remains unresolved. In July, Kohberger submitted a handwritten petition for post-conviction relief claiming that his original attorneys provided ineffective assistance and that he did not enter his guilty plea knowingly or voluntarily. He alleged that his attorneys made unfulfilled promises and threatened him during the plea process. Hippler has already scheduled a status conference for June 3, 2027, and an evidentiary hearing for June 17, 2027, although the hearing will proceed only if the court determines that one is warranted. Prosecutors have asked the court to dismiss Kohberger’s post-conviction petition. Kohberger’s original trial defense team, led by chief public defender Anne Taylor, alongside co-counsel Elisa Massoth and Bicka Barlow, no longer represents him because the criminal trial phase has concluded, and he is now challenging the quality of their work. If Kohberger gets a new trial, prosecutors could again seek the death penalty.