Court Filing
Filed: 05/14/2025 15:56:44 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 THE STATE OF IDAHO, Plaintiff, Case No. CR01-24-31665 VS. AMENDED ORDER GOVERNING COURTROOM CONDUCT BRYAN C. KOHBERGER, Defendant. To provide for the orderly disposition of this case, this Order shall govern the conduct of the public and media in the Ada County Courthouse for the entirety of this case, including the jury trial, and supersedes any prior courtroom conduct orders in this case. The Court is mindful of the need to balance (1) the constitutional rights of the defendant; (2) the public's interest and right to information in conjunction with certain constitutional and statutory rights for the public to attend the proceedings; (3) the court's interest in maintaining order and an environment which permits all participants to focus on their responsibilities without undue distractions; and (4) the court's interest in the safety of the public and court and security personnel. With these factors in mind, pursuant to Idaho Court Administrative Rules (I.C.A.R.) 45 and 49, and the inherent powers of the Court, the Court orders as follows: 1) SEATING AND ATTENDANCE IN ADA COUNTY COURTROOM A) Seating for Victim (s), Families of Defendant, Counsel, Other Court Personnel. Certain seating may be reserved by the court for designated individuals, including but not limited to authorized court personnel, security personnel, the defendant's family, statutory victims, and others specified by the presiding judge. AMENDED ORDER GOVERNING COURTROOM CONDUCT-PAGE 1 B) Public Seating. Subject to the need for reserved seating referenced in 1 (A), seating for the public, including media, will be permitted in the courtroom, as space permits, pursuant to a reservation protocol established and administered by the Trial Court Administration. No person may reserve seats, except as indicated in 1 (A) above. Standing attendance when open seating is unavailable will not be allowed. C) Entry and Exit During Court Proceedings. All spectators, including members of the media and the public, shall be seated before court is in session and during any portion of the trial. No entry or re-entry to the courtroom shall be permitted while court is in session. 2) OTHER RESTRICTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS; BROADCAST OF PROCEEDINGS A) Security Screening. All persons entering the courtroom may be subject to additional security screening. Handbags, backpacks, and other carry-ins are subject to inspection. B) Cell Phones & Other Electronic Devices in Courtroom. Cell phones, tablets, laptops or any other electronic device shall be turned off or be in " silent mode " and shall not make any sound or create any distraction. Devices SHALL NOT be used to record, photograph or transmit any sounds, images or video from the courtrooms used during the proceedings. Phones or other handheld devices capable of recording shall not be used or held out of pockets / purses while the court is in session.¹ Laptops or tablets used for notetaking must have any recording capabilities disabled and are subject to inspection to ensure that such features have been deactivated or to determine if recordings of audio or images have been taken in violation of this Order. If the use of such electronic devices, such as keyboards, are distracting, persons using keyboards may be reseated and / or such use may be prohibited by the court. C) Interviews and Reporting. No media interviews or reporting shall be conducted inside the courtroom, except for written reporting, such as " live-tweeting. " The public, including media, is also subject to Administrative Order No. 25-05-01 regarding conduct inside and outside the Ada County Courthouse. Such written reporting may be restricted or prohibited if it becomes distracting or for other good reason. D) Disruptive Behavior. Any activity or behavior which is disruptive may result in removal from the courtroom. No person shall demonstratively react verbally or nonverbally to evidence or arguments 1 If a person wishes to use a phone for taking notes or for written reporting, such as " live tweeting " they must first notify a court security officer to ensure that recording is not activated and to avoid concern that the phone is being used surreptitiously in violation of this Order. AMENDED ORDER GOVERNING COURTROOM CONDUCT-PAGE 2 or otherwise attempt to convey opinions related to the case while the court is in session or jurors are present or could potentially see or hear the same.. Further, no person attending court may wear or otherwise display anything or make statements verbally or nonverbally that in any way could be construed as conveying any message related to this case, or to any political or advocacy message that could be construed as relating to this case. Persons violating this Order may be removed and may be prohibited from further attendance. E) Streaming of Court Proceedings. Hearings that are open to the public will be streamed at https://coi.isc.idaho.gov/docs/Stream/District-4/District-4.html. Any prior order related to broadcasting of the jury trial in this matter is hereby rescinded. Any person violating the terms of any portion of this Order may be removed (temporarily and / or permanently excluded) 2 and any recordings or images violating the Order may be seized and / or deleted. In addition, the person in violation maybe charged with contempt pursuant to Idaho Code Section 18-1801, trespass pursuant to Idaho Code Section 18-7008, and / or other such charge (s) as may be appropriate and may result in imprisonment and fines. IT IS SO ORDERED. 17 day of May 2025. Dated this Steven J. Hippler Administrative District Judge Fourth Judicial District 2 If a person violating the terms of this Order is a " media affiliate, " meaning is a member of, employed by, under contract with, or otherwise represents a media organization or entity, then other media affiliates of that organization may also be removed and / or prohibited from further attendance at the trial or the court proceedings. AMENDED ORDER GOVERNING COURTROOM CONDUCT-PAGE 3 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on 5/14/2025 I served a true and correct copy of the AMENDED ORDER GOVERNING COURTROOM CONDUCT WILLIAM W. THOMPSON, JR. PROSECUTING ATTORNEY VIA EMAIL: paservice@latahcountyid.gov ASHLEY JENNINGS SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY VIA EMAIL: paservice@latahcountyid.gov JOSHUA D. HURWIT SPECIAL DEPUTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY VIA EMAIL: paservice@latahcountyid.gov JEFFERY D. NYE SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL VIA EMAIL: jeff.nye@ag.idaho.gov MADISON ALLEN SPECIAL ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL VIA EMAIL: Madison.allen@ag.idaho.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 FIRST DISTRICT PUBLIC DEFENDER JAY W. LOGSDON VIA EMAIL: jay.logsdon@spd.idaho.gov BICKA BARLOW Pro Hac Vice VIA EMAIL: bickabarlow@sbcglobal.net TRENT TRIPPLE Clerk of the Court By: Ben Wat Deputy Clerk 5/14/2025 3:58:55 PM CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE