Judge bars filming of James Holmes exam, for now

The judge in the Colorado theater shootings case has told a doctor not to video-record the second sanity evaluation of defendant James Holmes, at least until a hearing on the matter.

The judge issued the order Friday after defense attorneys objected to the planned video recording. The judge plans a hearing this week, but hasn’t set a date.

The state mental hospital has said the doctor routinely video-records his examinations but didn’t say why. He offered to withhold the video from both sides.

Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of killing 12 people in the July 2012 attack. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The trial date is up in the air.

The judge ordered a second sanity evaluation after concluding that the first was flawed.