Still, there have been cases of judges rejecting deals because of victim feedback. In her 35-year career as a prosecutor, mostly of white-collar crimes, Peress said she has twice encountered a judge who rejected an initial plea deal because family members were unhappy.

Bryan Kohberger admitted to the killings of four University of Idaho students at his change of plea hearing on Wednesday, pleading guilty to all five counts, despite the former criminology student's initial eagerness to be exonerated in the high-profile case.