Judge John Judge, who had been overseeing Bryan Kohberger’s murder trial in Moscow before it was moved to Boise, has announced his retirement. In a letter dated October 4th, Judge expressed his decision to retire after 40 years in the legal field, including 16 years as a judge. He highlighted the challenges and rewards of his career and mentioned his plan to retire on January 17th.
Kohberger, the defendant in the case, is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. The trial was moved out of Moscow due to concerns about potential juror bias and logistical challenges. Judge granted the venue change in September, a decision that was met with criticism from the family of one of the victims.
Despite his retirement, Judge decided not to continue on with Kohberger’s case and handed off the selection of a new judge to the Idaho Supreme Court. Judge Steven Hippler, of Idaho’s 4th Judicial District, was chosen to preside over the case, with jury selection set to begin on July 30, 2025.
In his retirement letter, Judge mentioned his desire to spend more time with his family and pursue other interests outside of the legal field. The timing of his retirement comes after a long and impactful career, which included handling the high-profile murder case of Bryan Kohberger.
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