The search for an interstate judge to conduct the rape trial of former NT assistant police commissioner Peter Bravos has begun, the NT Supreme Court has been told.

Key points: Justice Judith Kelly rejected a defence application of apprehended bias

Justice Judith Kelly rejected a defence application of apprehended bias Justice Kelly said she could still conduct the trial if an external judge could not be found

Justice Kelly said she could still conduct the trial if an external judge could not be found Peter Bravos faces two counts of sexual intercourse without consent

Mr Bravos's lawyer, John Lawrence SC, last week applied for Justice Judith Kelly to step aside from the trial on the basis that her connection to a witness could influence proceedings.

Justice Kelly has rejected the application of apprehended bias, but despite this found it would be better if an interstate judge conducted the trial "as a matter of convenience".

She said this would avoid the raising of "irrelevant issues" during the hearing.

"I think it would be desirable for this case to be heard by a judge from outside the jurisdiction," Justice Kelly said.

"As well as to ensure the defendant himself believes he has the benefit of an impartial trial."

Mr Bravos is facing two counts of sexual intercourse without consent — two separate counts have been withdrawn — and his trial is listed to run for four weeks from April 22.

In arriving at her decision, Justice Kelly said Mr Lawrence's arguments concerning apprehended bias did not stack up.

Justice Kelly said an interstate judge should hear the trial so 'irrelevant issues' were not raised. ( ABC News: Felicity James )

Justice Kelly rejected the suggestion by Mr Lawrence that a speech she made was evidence of apprehended bias, because she had referred to the witness as a "role model" for women in the legal profession.

The judge said her relationship with the witness in question was a professional one more than 10 years ago and a "fair minded observer" would not think she would act in an impartial or biased way during the trial.

She said the search for an interstate judge was already underway, and if this was unsuccessful the trial could be conducted by herself or another local judge that had not already stepped aside.

"Attempts are going to be made to find an external judge to take over the matter, as a matter of convenience rather than apprehended bias," Justice Kelly said.

The matter will be before the Supreme Court in Darwin again on February 13.