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Colo. judge rejects secrecy request in shooting case

DENVER — The judge in the Colorado theater shootings has rebuffed a request by the defense to further limit public access to documents in the case.

The ruling Friday denied a defense request for the court to stop posting documents online and to deny public access to transcripts and to a weekly summary of court actions.

It marked a rare victory for public access in the case against James Holmes. A gag order prevents attorneys from discussing the issues publicly outside of court.

In his ruling, Arapahoe County District Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. also noted that he has repeatedly limited public access to documents at the request of attorneys or on his own.

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Holmes’s lawyers argued that publicity surrounding the case threatens to make it impossible to find an unbiased jury. But Samour disagreed, saying the defense had not made a persuasive argument to suppress the transcripts and docket.

He also said the public and the media have an interest in monitoring the case and that posting documents online was the most efficient way to make records available.

Holmes, 25, is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in the July 2012 attack at a movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to multiple charges of murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Samour also pointed out that the results of Holmes’s sanity evaluation done last summer at the state mental hospital remain secret, as does a notebook that Holmes mailed before the shootings to a psychiatrist who had been treating him.

Media groups objected to the defense request to limit public access. So did some victims who want court documents for lawsuits.

Associated Press