In a dramatic turn of events, the judge presiding over Bryan Kohberger's quadruple murder case has reprimanded defense attorney Anne C. Taylor for commissioning phone surveys to prospective jurors. The judge expressed concerns that these surveys could potentially hinder Kohberger's chances of receiving a fair trial. However, Taylor fired back with accusations of her own, claiming that the judge violated her client's right to due process by halting the anonymous survey without hearing the defense's perspective.

The courtroom drama unfolded during the latest hearing in the case against Kohberger, who is accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Taylor argued that the phone survey was a crucial part of her efforts to seek a change of venue due to the extensive media coverage the case has received in northwest Idaho.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson acknowledged that he had no issue with the defense commissioning "responsible, proper surveys." However, he strongly objected to the specific survey in question, stating, "This survey cannot stand."

During the heated hearing, Thompson referenced a non-dissemination order from June 2023, commonly known as a gag order. The prosecutor highlighted that the defense attorney had claimed she had approved the survey topics but had not seen the actual questions themselves. Thompson expressed concern about certain questions that were brought to his attention by a concerned resident.

The questions mentioned in the survey included inquiries about Kohberger's arrest at his parents' home in Pennsylvania, the discovery of a knife sheath next to one of the victims, the DNA on the sheath matching Kohberger's, whether university students and their parents lived in fear until Kohberger's arrest, and allegations of Kohberger stalking one of the victims.

These questions raised significant concerns for Thompson, as he believed they disseminated evidence that may not be admissible in court. He also argued that some of the questions contained false representations of fact. Thompson denounced these actions as "completely reckless," asserting that at least 400 individuals in Latah County had been exposed to this information in violation of the non-dissemination order.

Amidst the arguments, Taylor reiterated that the survey was primarily intended to identify issues within the county to support the defense's argument for a change of venue. However, the judge interjected, emphasizing his concern about the impact of media coverage on Kohberger's ability to receive a fair trial. He specifically noted that some of the survey questions seemed inculpatory.

Taylor expressed frustration with the judge's swift decision to halt contact with potential jurors without hearing the defense's side of the story first. She asserted, "I was shocked to see the court issue an order within hours of the state filing a motion late on a Friday without giving us a chance to be heard," and raised concerns regarding due process.

The judge defended his actions, stating that he received the prosecution's request late in the afternoon, reviewed the materials, issued the non-permanent order, and promptly scheduled the hearing to address both sides of the case.

As the courtroom drama unfolded, the fate of Bryan Kohberger and the pursuit of a fair trial hangs in the balance, leaving the future of the case against him uncertain. The judge's decision regarding the admissibility of the survey and his handling of the due process concerns raised by the defense attorney will undoubtedly shape the course of this high-profile murder trial.