On August 31, 2026, Gregory Rauch, Bryan Kohberger's newly appointed attorney, filed motions in Ada County to disqualify Judge Stephen Hippler from the post-conviction proceedings and to move the case back to Latah County, citing the judge's scathing sentencing remarks as evidence of bias. Kohberger is separately challenging a November 13 deadline to amend his petition. A status conference is now set for next June, and the filings remain unresolved.