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The long-awaited trial of the Aurora movie theater gunman won’t be postponed further, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Judge Carlos Samour concluded that defense attorneys have had enough time to prepare and that public faith in the justice system requires the case to move to trial.
“To delay this trial unnecessarily or improperly solely on the basis that this is a death penalty case would only promote the cynical view — sadly held by many — that the justice system is broken,” Samour wrote in his order.
Defense attorneys argued that they need more time to review more than 5,000 pages of documents related to the second court-ordered sanity exam of James Holmes. At a hearing Monday, defense attorney Daniel King also noted that two colleagues on the case — an attorney and an investigator — recently suffered medical emergencies. He did not elaborate publicly.
In his order, Samour referenced medical emergencies “experienced by relatives of two members of the defense team.” While expressing his sympathies, Samour wrote that the emergencies “do not justify a continuance of the trial.”
Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin Jan. 20. Holmes, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other charges, faces the death penalty if convicted.