An Idaho judge on Thursday criticized murder suspect Byran Kohberger’s defense team for a questionnaire they sent to approximately 400 local residents — and possible jurors — who could preside over the case.

John Judge’s harsh remarks come as an attorney for Kohberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in their Moscow home in November 2022, pushes to get his trial moved to a different county, alleging that Latah County residents are biased toward her client.

Thursday’s hearing began with Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson listing some of the specific questions that the defense included in their survey distributed to locals, including: “Have you read, seen or heard about Bryan Kohberger’s arrest at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania?,” “Have you read, seen or heard if police found a knife sheath on the bed next to one of the victims?” and “Have you read, seen or heard that DNA found on the knife sheath was later matched to Bryan Kohberger?”

The judge noted that the defense’s questionnaire was submitted to 400 people “without the permission of the court” and “without discussion with the state.” Thompson and Judge suggested that the questions in the survey detailed too much information about a murder case that has a gag order.

Kohberger — a former criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University in nearby Pullman, Washington — is charged with four counts of murder and burglary after he allegedly stabbed 20-year-old Xana Kernodle, 20-year-old Ethan Chapin, 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves and 21-year-old Madison Mogen with a KA-BAR knife in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022.

Kohberger was arrested in late December 2022. His trial is scheduled for no later than the summer of 2025. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.