Court Filing
Filed: 02/20/2025 14:43:16 Fourth Judicial District, Ada County Trent Tripple, Clerk of the Court By: Deputy Clerk-Waters, Renee IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF ADA STATE OF IDAHO, Ada County Case No. CR01-24-31665 Plaintiff, V. ORDER REDACTING PORTIONS OF JANUARY 23, 2025 CLOSED HEARING BRYAN C. KOHBERGER, TRANSCRIPT Defendant. This matter comes before the Court on the State's Motion to Seal Proposed Redactions to January 23, 2025 Closed Hearing Transcript (Feb. 18, 2025) and Defendant's non-opposition thereto. The State has identified four categories of redactions that it asserts are appropriate under I.C.A.R. 32: 1) references to the name of a witness and roommate of the victims; 2) inquiries by Defendant related to his Franks motion, which the State objected to and was sustained; 3) names of Defendant's distant relatives identified through IGG, and; 4) individuals who were identified as potential relatives of Defendant through Othram Laboratory's IGG. The Court finds that redactions are appropriate as to categories 1, 3 and 4 pursuant to I.C.A.R 32 (g) (1) in that the individuals ' names are exempt from public disclosure under I.C. § 74-124 (1) (c) as public release would constitute an " unwarranted invasion of person privacy " as defined by I.C. § 74-101 (16) (a) (ii). In addition, these redactions are warranted under I.C.A.R 32 (i) given that these individuals ' privacy interests predominate over the public's interest in disclosure. Publication of their identities could be highly objectionable to a reasonable person, could endanger their lives and / or safety and could jeopardize the right to a fair trial in this matter. Redaction of their names is the least restrictive measure consistent with privacy interests at issue and with preserving the integrity of the case and the right to a fair trial. Consequently, the Court ORDERS that categories 1, 3 and 4 be redacted from the January 23, 2025, Closed Hearing Transcript. The Court does not find it appropriate to redact the information in category 2. The fact that the Court sustained the State's objection to defense counsel's inquiries does not make the line of inquiry confidential or otherwise subject to sealing. Further the portion of the transcript in question does not reveal new or other evidence unknown to the public, the disclosure of which could jeopardize a fair trial or the ability to impanel an impartial jury. Consequently, this portion of the State's motion is DENIED. A transcript redacted consistent with this order shall be uploaded into the record in this case and made available via the Idaho Supreme Court's Cases of Interest page on its website. IT IS SO ORDERED. 1 Dated this this day day of February, 2025. STEVEN J. HIPPLER ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT JUDGE CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on 2/20/2025 I served a true and correct copy of the ORDER REDACTING PORTIONS OF JANUARY 23, 2025 CLOSED HEARING TRANSCRIPT LATAH COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WILLIAM W. THOMPSON, JR. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY JEFFERY D. NYE SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL VIA EMAIL: Jeff.Nye@ag.idaho.gov ASHLEY JENNINGS DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY VIA EMAIL: paservice@latahcountyid.gov ANNE TAYLOR LAW, PLLC ANNE C. TAYLOR VIA EMAIL: info@annetaylorlaw.com ELISA G. MASSOTH, PLLC ELISA G. MASSOTH VIA EMAIL: emassoth@kmrs.net IDAHO STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE JAY W. LOGSDON FIRST DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER VIA EMAIL: Jay.Logsdon@spd.idaho.gov TRENT TRIPPLE Clerk of the Court By: Ben Wat Deputy Clerk 2/20/2025 2:43:26 PM