Media Push to Lift Gag Order in Kohberger Idaho Murders Case After Guilty Plea

A coalition of media outlets, from major players to local Idaho papers, is pushing an Idaho judge to lift the gag order in the Bryan Kohberger case, arguing that with his guilty plea now public, the order’s purpose has evaporated. The non-dissemination order, in place since Kohberger’s arrest in December 2022, was meant to shield his right to a fair trial by limiting what lawyers and investigators could say publicly. But with no trial on the horizon, the media argues it’s time to let the truth breathe.

Last week, Kohberger admitted to the first-degree murders of four University of Idaho students—Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—in a chilling 4 a.m. attack on November 13, 2022. His plea deal spares him the death penalty but locks in four consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional 10 years. He’s also waived his right to appeal or seek a lighter sentence, sealing his fate ahead of the July 23 sentencing.

At the plea hearing, prosecutors requested the gag order remain until sentencing, a move Kohberger’s defense didn’t contest. Judge Steven Hippler, the third judge to oversee the case after a venue change to Ada County, agreed. Yet the media coalition—including FOX News, The Associated Press, and the University of Idaho’s student paper, The Argonaut—argues the order now infringes on First Amendment rights, with no trial to protect and unanswered questions lingering.

The case, shrouded in secrecy for years, has left the public hungry for clarity. Kohberger’s confession didn’t include a detailed explanation of his motives, and the gag order continues to muzzle key players. The motion to lift it underscores a broader tension: the balance between a defendant’s rights and the public’s right to know.