DENVER (Reuters) - Attorneys for accused Colorado theater gunman James Holmes oppose requests by news media to televise his trial, arguing the presence of cameras would jeopardize his due process rights, a court filing made public on Friday showed.

A group of television news outlets requested last month that Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour allow expanded media coverage of the trial, which is set to begin with jury selection in December.

Colorado law lets trials be televised at the discretion of the presiding judge.

Holmes, 26, is charged with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder for opening fire in July 2102 inside a suburban Denver cinema during a midnight screening of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."

Twelve moviegoers were killed and 70 others were injured in the rampage, and prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for the California native if he is convicted.

Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. His lawyers have conceded the former neuroscience graduate student was the lone shooter, but said he was undergoing a psychotic episode at the time.

In their response to the request to televise the trial, public defenders said defense witnesses would be hesitant to testify due to privacy concerns amid what they said would likely turn into "a media spectacle."

Any reluctance by witnesses could have an impact on Holmes' right to a fair trial, and to a reliable sentencing hearing should he be convicted, the defense lawyers wrote.

"Their (TV news outlets) primary goal is to attract viewers and make money, not necessarily to educate and enlighten the public on the functioning of the criminal justice system," they wrote.

"The Court should take pause before transforming this workplace into a 'set' for the entertainment of the public, which will most certainly detract from the solemnity of these

proceedings."

Prosecutors have not yet filed their response to the media request. Samour has set a Sept. 22 hearing on the issue.


http://news.yahoo.com/lawyers-accused-colorado-theater-gunman-oppose-televising-trial-203510135.html



Im torn on the issue, I see the merits of the trial being public so people can understand , at least partially, how the jury comes to its decision

I also see the merits of the trial being private for the sake of compassion to the families involved

Televising a trial doesn't promote justice. So, why do it?

there is an appearance of secrecy when things are closed or inaccessible


it could promote justice in that it could be motivating attorneys to actually work harder when they know they are being watched

it could promote judges to rule more honestly and justly too


,,,I guess I lean more towards televised trials, but not passionate one way or the other on the topic,,

You present a false dilemma.

Trials are usually open to the public without being televised.
So, everyone involved in a trial is being watched by the public, just not on TV.

courtrooms have VERY limited seating, so that's not entirely true

many of those who attend are friends or families of the victim or accused, so in that sense its a very limited engagement

the public AT LARGE can have better access through television,

His trial. Judges decision.

We all have a right to the best defense we can get.

Wanna talk veils of secrecy? Look at u-no-hoo in DC.

Hypocrite much.

Journalists are also present during trials, even without them being televised. So, there is no secrecy.
All that televising a trial accomplishes is that it adds to the number of spectators.

problem is journalists put their 'spin' on what is happening, which colors perception in a way that allowing people to see for themselves probably doesn't do as often

It should be televised so that we can see for ourselves why people that knew Holmes was mentally disturbed and that he spoke and wrote about wanting to kill people did nothing.

I want to see University of Colorado employees get on the stand and tell the victims families why after being told that Holmes should be considered a threat to campus safety they chose to do nothing..

As with the Virginia Tech shooter, people knew Holmes was off the rails and did nothing..

This should be televised without a doubt..

All of those liberals in the media spin things?

spin is present regardless of political affiliation, obviously,,,

the most 'fair and balanced' reporters should be demonstration of that,, I certainly wouldn't call them liberals

We don't need no stinkin cameras.

op I heard this not sure how true ... but when a criminal trial is going on media can be in the court rm but can not show the film that same day ... least what I had heard about one trial ... they can show it the nxt day so I heard ...