Ada County Judge Steven Hippler told both sides in the Idaho student murders case that they will no longer have the court’s permission to file a large number of documents under seal and out of view of the public.

“The parties’ pervasive practice of filing material under seal in this case has become the norm rather than the exception,” Hippler wrote in an order filed Monday. “Rather than seeking to redact discrete sensitive information, entire documents are filed under seal. In addition, much of the material the parties seek to seal is already in the public domain or is simply not confidential or sensitive.”

Bryan Kohberger’s defense team and state prosecutors can still ask to have certain information, such as the names of witnesses and the victim’s family members, redacted, Hippler said. He will also allow documents to be filed under seal if sealing is justified under Idaho Court Administrative Rule 32, which governs documents that are exempt from public disclosure. 

Kohberger’s trial is expected to begin in August and could take up to 15 weeks. He could face the death penalty if convicted.