CENTENNIAL — A judge has ruled there is enough evidence for Aurora movie theater shooting suspect James Holmes to face trial.

Holmes will be formally arraigned on the 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other crimes he faces at a hearing at 9 a.m. Friday. He will have to enter a plea at that time, although his attorneys filed a motion Thursday seeking a delay.

In his ruling, the judge acknowleged that the defense was likely to request a continuance.

After the arraignment, prosecutors will have 63 days to announce whether they intend to seek the death penalty against Holmes.

The decision to bind Holmes over for trial, made by 18th Judicial District Chief Judge William Sylvester, is not unexpected.

It comes after a three-day preliminary hearing in which prosecutors tied Holmes to weapons found at the theater after the shooting, displayed pictures of Holmes posing with guns and body armor and detailed the intricacy of explosives found in his apartment.

Earlier Thursday, defense attorneys asked for his arraignment to be postponed regardless of what the judge decided.

In a motion trying to bar cameras from the courtroom, Holmes' defense team objected to the timing.

"The defense ... is not prepared to proceed to arraignment in this case by Friday, and therefore requests that the hearing on Friday serve only as a status hearing and not arraignment," the attorneys wrote.

Holmes' preliminary hearing wrapped on Wednesday.

Twelve people were killed in the July 20 attack, and 70 others were wounded either by gunfire or from fleeing the theater in panic.

Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244, jfender@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Oh_Fender