Motion for Defendant to Wear Street Clothing

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Named in this document

  • Bryan Kohberger Person
  • Jay Logsdon Person
  • Anne Taylor Person
  • Elsa G. Massoth Person
  • Jennifer Keyes Person
Electronically Filed
9/20/2024 1:24 PM

Fourth Judicial District, Ada County Trent Tripple, Clerk of the Court
By: Jennifer Keyes, Deputy Clerk Anne Taylor Law, PLLC Anne C. Taylor, Attorney at Law
Bar Number: 5836 PO Box 2347 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83816
Phone: (208) 512-9611 iCourt Email: info@annetaylorlaw.com Jay W. Logsdon, Interim Public Defender Kootenai County Public Defender's Office PO Box 9000 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83816
Phone: (208)446-1700 Elisa G. Massoth, PLLC Attorney at Law P.O. Box 1003 Payette, Idaho 83661
Phone: (208) 642-3797; Fax: (208)642-3799 Assigned Attorney:
Anne C. Taylor, Public Defender, Bar Number: 5836 Jay W. Logsdon, Chief Deputy Public Defender, Bar Number: 8759 Elisa G. Massoth, Attorney at Law, Bar Number: 5647
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE
STATE OF IDAHO, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF LATAН

STATE OF IDAHO CASE NUMBER CR01-24-31665

Plaintiff,
MOTION FOR DEFENDANT TO WEAR

V. STREET CLOTHING TO ALL PUBLIC

HEARINGS

BRYAN C. KOHBERGER,

Defendant.

COMES NOW, Bryan C. Kohberger, by and through his attorneys of record, and hereby requests this Court to provide an Order for Mr. Kohberger to attend all public hearings in street
MOTION FOR DEFENDANT TO WEAR STREET CLOTHING TO ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS PAGE-1

clothing. This motion is based on the 5th 6th, 8th and 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article I, § 1, 6, 7, and 13 of the Idaho Constitution This request is owing to the public nature of the case and vast dissemination of images of Mr. Kohberger.

The United States Supreme Court in Estelle, Corrections Director v. Williams 425 U.S.

501 (1976) recognized that causing a person to appear in front of his or her jury in jail clothing would impact the presumption of innocence. Mr. Kohberger respectfully requests all public hearings be considered prejudicial similarly.

In the years that have passed since the Estelle case was decided technology has changed public access to the accused. The public has the ability to “ attend ” public hearings through live streamed hearings. Potential jurors are exposed to every hearing. Mr. Kohberger, having been recently granted a change of venue due to the ongoing, vast, and prejudicial pretrial publicity, recognizes the continued media coverage may impact his right to a fair impartial jury. As such, avoiding coverage in jail clothing is one thing that can reduce prejudice.

During the short time between Mr. Kohberger's transport to Ada County and the drafting of this motion Mr. Kohberger's defense team is aware of at least 900 media stories, many of which have focused on Mr. Kohberger's recent booking photo depicting facial hair. As was placed in the record at the hearing to change venue, expert testimony is that public interest will not wane. This testimony continues to be accurate given the extensive nature of media coverage in the immediate past 5 days. Much of the media coverage and social media posts focus on Mr. Kohberger's appearance. Authorizing Mr. Kohberger to wear street clothing to all public hearings is one way to reduce potential for prejudice.

MOTION FOR DEFENDANT TO WEAR STREET CLOTHING TO ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS PAGE-2

Counsel for Mr. Kohberger has had the opportunity to speak with the Ada County Sheriff command staff about street clothing for hearings and they are able to accommodate this request if so ordered by the court.

DATED this 20 day of September, 2024.

Anne C. Taylor
ANNE TAYLOR LAW, PLLC

CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was personally served as indicated below on the 20 day of September, 2024 addressed to:
Latah County Prosecuting Attorney –via Email: paservice@latahcountyid.gov
Elisa Massoth-via Email: legalassistant@kmrs.net Dul
MOTION FOR DEFENDANT TO WEAR STREET CLOTHING TO ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS PAGE-3