All eyes on Idaho courtroom for Bryan Kohberger’s chilling admission | Opinion

The whole world seemed to be watching the packed Ada County courtroom for the change-of-plea hearing Wednesday in the first-degree murder case of Bryan Kohberger, the man who fatally stabbed four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

What they saw was a chilling admission of guilt from the man who has been seen but never heard from in the nearly three years since the murders of Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21; and Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, both 20.

What they also saw was a professional, efficient, thorough and well-run hearing. Kudos to 4th Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler for his handling of the hearing and leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Kohberger fully and completely admitted his culpability.

He made sure Kohberger confirmed that he was satisfied with the proceedings, was not under the influence of any substances and was of sound mind in pleading guilty. It’s all textbook stuff, when going by the book is of paramount importance.

Never before has the single word, “Yes,” sounded so chilling as when Kohberger answered the questions of guilt.

“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?” Hippler asked Kohberger directly.

“Yes,” Kohberger answered in a matter-of-fact manner, as if being asked whether he had gone to the grocery store that day.

Hippler made it clear to Kohberger the consequences of his guilty plea, including fines, charges and loss of rights.

He made sure no one coerced Kohberger or promised anything for his guilty plea.

He even asked Kohberger whether he felt he had enough time to come to the decision to plead guilty and whether he was satisfied with his defense counsel.

Hippler seemed to cover every base that might come up later as a possible way to challenge Kohberger’s plea.

Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson also went into a detailed explanation of the case he had against Kohberger, including information about Kohberger’s car and cellphone locations before, during and after the murders.

We share Hippler’s dismay at what appeared to be a public campaign from upset family members to influence him into rejecting the plea deal, which a judge is not empowered to do unless he feels the plea was obtained without the full consent of the accused.

“A court is not supposed to — and this court will never — take into account public sentiment in making an opinion regarding its judicial decisions in cases,” Hippler said. “Courts should, and I always will, make decisions based on where the facts and the law lead me. Period.”

Hippler said the court was inundated with calls and emails, overwhelming the system and interfering with the court’s ability to administer justice in other cases, and as Hippler pointed out, interfering with other victims’ and families’ ability to have justice.

Hippler even apologized to the families of both the victims and the defendant for calling the hearing so quickly, but he noted that it was necessary to move “expeditiously” because the court was preparing to call as many as 10,000 Ada County residents as potential jurors. If the plea were to collapse, that process would still need to take place; conversely, if the plea held, those plans would need to be canceled. Time was of the essence.

Wednesday’s hearing set off a minor media frenzy, with news outlets from all over the world present. But the hearing came less than two days after a guilty plea was disclosed publicly.

The sentencing hearing, scheduled for July 23, promises to be even bigger and more dramatic, as victims’ families will provide their impact statements, and Kohberger himself will be given an opportunity to address the court.

Based on how the case has been handled so far, we would expect nothing less than another professional, well-run and thorough hearing.

The sentencing should put an end to a killer’s time in the limelight — and hopefully provide some closure to ease the loss and suffering of the families and friends of Maddie, Kaylee, Xana and Ethan.

Disclosure: Opinion editor Scott McIntosh is acquainted with Judge Steven Hippler, as the two have met a couple of times over the past 10 years at social functions associated with schools their children attended together.