Holmes jury selection, trial may take 8 months

The judge in the Colorado theater shooting case says it could take up to three months to pick a jury and up to five months to conduct the trial of defendant James Holmes.

The judge’s estimate was included in an order released Wednesday.

Holmes is accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 when he opened fire on a packed movie theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora in July 2012.

He is charged with more than 160 counts of murder and attempted murder, and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

The judge says he will issue summonses to 6,000 potential jurors and seat 12 alternates along with the regular 12-member jury.

Jury selection is scheduled to start in February.