Judge lifts gag order on Bryan Kohberger murder case
Curtis Jackson
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)— An Idaho judge will lift a gag order in the Bryan Kohberger murder case. This order will permit those involved in the case to speak publicly about it.
Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students on July 2.
“At this point, i just don’t think that I can justify the continuation of the non-dissemination order. I think the rights of the public to information in this case is paramount, given the fact that a plea has been entered in this case, and so i’m going to lift the non-dissemination order,” Judge Steven Hippler ruled from the bench on Thursday.
The judge said lifting the gag order does not mean the sealed document will be unsealed. He will determine after Kohberger is sentenced which documents will be unsealed.
“I’m unlikely to unseal much until after sentencing and after the appeals period has run,” the judge added.
Information in the document may need to be redacted due to the presence of personal data, such as social security numbers and dates of birth. He said it could take months for those to be released.
The judge will determine whether to unseal each sealed document after it has been redacted.
Today’s hearing follows the media’s filing of a motion to lift the gag order. The gag order was initially established to protect the jury selection process.
Kohberger is scheduled to be sentenced next Wednesday, July 23, at 9 a.m.