Who Is Bicka Barlow? Bryan Kohberger’s New Attorney

An Idaho district judge allowed a new attorney to join Bryan Kohberger’s defense team in an order filed on Thursday.

Bicka Barlow, an attorney specializing in cases involving forensic DNA evidence, was admitted by District Judge Steven Hippler to serve alongside Kohberger’s legal team.

Why It Matters

Kohberger, 30, is accused of fatally stabbing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin in an off-campus residence in Moscow, Idaho, in 2022.

He is is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

What To Know

Barlow was admitted pro hac vice in this case. “Pro hac vice,” or “for this occassion,” admission allows a lawyer who is not licensed to practice in a certain jurisdiction to participate in a case within that jurisdiction. Barlow’s law office is based in California.

Bicka Barlow speaks during a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow., Idaho.

August Frank/The Lewiston Tribune via AP, Pool

She will join defense attorneys Anne Taylor, Elisa Massoth and Jay Logsdon.

The defense previously retained Barlow as a DNA consultant, according to a June 2023 declaration. She also testified at a hearing in the case in August 2023.

Barlow received a bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in genetics and developmental biology from Cornell University.

She then graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law and served as a research attorney for the Criminal Division of the San Francisco Superior Court.

Barlow later opened a private criminal law practice where she focused on DNA cases. She acted as an attorney/consultant on over 100 DNA cases at all stages of proceedings in both state and federal court, according to her law office’s website.

In 2004, Barlow began serving as the DNA attorney for the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, where she consulted with attorneys on cases involving DNA evidence and acted as co-counsel on cases involving homicide and other serious felonies.

What People Are Saying

Taylor, in a motion for pro hac vice admission: “This motion would allow Ms. Barlow to join the case as co-counsel and participate in trial responsibilities from the time of admission through the conclusion of the case.”