James Holmes Case Prepares to Go to Trial

"No jury sequestration in Aurora theater shooting trial, judge rules," is John Ingold's report for the Denver Post.

Jurors in the Aurora theater shooting murder trial will not have to live in hotel rooms during the four or more months the trial takes, according to a judge's order issued Thursday.

Judge Carlos Samour rejected a request by the lawyers of suspect James Holmes that the jury be sequestered during the trial, to prevent exposure to media coverage of the case that might impact their decision.

Samour wrote that sequestration would be an "unnecessarily drastic, expensive, and impractical remedy

that will significantly impact the pool of prospective jurors and will create an extreme and undue hardship for jurors."

Instead, Samour said he would warn jurors to avoid media coverage about the trial or conversations where the trial would likely be discussed. If that doesn't work, Samour said Holmes' attorneys can re-submit their sequestration request later.

In other orders, Samour said jurors will not be able to have cellphones, tablets or laptops in the courtroom but can use them outside of the courtroom, as long as they don't use them to look up information about the case.

AP coverage is, "Judge: James Holmes to be tied to floor at Aurora shooting trial," by Dan Elliott.  It's via Boulder Daily Camera.

Colorado theater shooting suspect James Holmes will be restrained during his trial by wearing a harness under his clothes that will be anchored to the floor, the judge said Thursday.

Judge Carlos A. Samour Jr. also ruled the jury will not be sequestered during the trial, which is scheduled to start in February and is expected to take four months.

Holmes is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 others at a movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora in July.

He has worn heavy shackles on his wrists and ankles during pretrial hearings. His lawyers wanted him to be unshackled during the trial, saying the restraints would make him look guilty to the jury.

Samour said Holmes has to be restrained because he is charged with violent crimes. He said jurors won't see the harness, and the anchoring cable will blend in with computer cables at the defense table.

The judge ruled earlier that Holmes can wear civilian clothing at his trial.

"Lawyer in Nathan Dunlap case thinking about run for Colorado governor," is also from the Associated Press in Colorad; also via the Boulder Daily Camera.

The Republican district attorney who supports executing convicted killer Nathan Dunlap said he's thinking about running for governor.

The Denver Post reported Thursday that George Brauchler is weighing whether to challenge Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2014.

Brauchler is district attorney in four counties southeast of Denver, including Arapahoe, where Dunlap was convicted in 1996.

Brauchler has sharply criticized Hickenlooper for granting a reprieve to Dunlap, who was sentenced to die for ambushing and killing four people at a Denver-area Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in 1993.

 

And:

Brauchler said he was approached by influential Republicans about running, "and I have been seriously considering it."

He was elected last year and took office in January, so he has been DA less than six months. Brauchler said his brief tenure will be one factor in his decision.

The article notes that Brauchler is also the prosecutor in the James Holmes case.  Earlier coverage from Colorado begins at the link.