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PARK CITY, Utah (BFMG) — Convicted murderer Kouri Richins is asking a Utah court to throw out her convictions and grant a new trial, arguing the judge who oversaw her case was biased and allowed prejudicial evidence that deprived her of a fair proceeding.
Richins, 36, a Kamas mother and former real estate agent convicted of killing her husband, Eric Richins, with a fentanyl‑laced drink, filed a 14-page motion in Summit County’s 3rd District Court seeking a new trial “due to irregularities in the trial proceedings and cumulative error.” Her attorneys contend District Judge Richard Mrazik demonstrated bias in favor of the prosecution in front of the jury and permitted extensive evidence of alleged financial crimes that went beyond pretrial rulings.
In the motion, Richins’ legal team argues that repeated interruptions and judicial corrections of defense counsel during witness examinations created the impression that her attorneys were mishandling the case, undermining the defense in jurors’ eyes. The filing cites portions of the trial transcript in which, according to the defense, the judge assisted prosecutors with objections, raised concerns on the state’s behalf and ruled in their favor even when the prosecution had not formally objected.
The motion states that the court’s repeated assistance to the prosecution and disparate treatment of defense counsel before the jury denied Richins her right to a fair trial. Her attorneys also say the state relied heavily on “other crimes, wrongs or bad acts” evidence, including years of alleged financial misconduct, in a way that violated evidentiary rules and created substantial, undue prejudice.
The defense is asking for an evidentiary hearing to present testimony and argument on its claims of judicial bias and improper evidence, and ultimately for Richins’ convictions to be vacated and a new trial granted.
After the filing, Mrazik moved to disqualify himself from ruling on the motion, citing the need to avoid any appearance of conflict as his own conduct is now at issue. In a written order, he said the court would take no further action in the case until the motion is decided, and another judge is expected to be assigned to handle the new‑trial request.
Richins’ case has already seen multiple defense challenges to venue and jury selection, with her attorneys previously asking that the matter be moved out of Summit County over concerns about pretrial publicity and community bias. The Utah Supreme Court earlier declined to consider an appeal tied to the jury pool, allowing the case to proceed to trial in Summit County.
Richins has been ordered to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole and has vowed to continue fighting her conviction. Her latest motion sets up another legal battle over how her high‑profile trial was conducted.
