The judge overseeing the Aurora movie theater shooting case has denied a request by the city of Aurora to lift or modify the gag order covering the case.

Attorneys for Aurora had asked 18th Judicial District Chief Judge William Sylvester to lift the gag order to allow Aurora police officers to give talks to other departments about how they responded to the July 20 tragedy. Aurora says an order from Sylvester intended to limit pre-trial publicity blocks officers from giving such talks.

Aurora also sought clarification about whether it can release recordings of 911 calls that were played in open court earlier this year.

In an order issued Monday and made public Tuesday, Sylvester said the status quo would remain. However, he said, that doesn’t necessarily prohibit Aurora police from talking about or releasing information.

“The Court commends the City of Aurora for its prudence and caution in releasing these records,” Sylvester wrote. “However, this Court is not in a position to authorize, or prohibit, the release of information as requested by the City of Aurora.”

Sylvester suggested Aurora attorneys reread his earlier order, state laws and the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, which governs attorney conduct.

“The City of Aurora, as a law enforcement agency associated with the prosecution in the investigation of this case, may disseminate information, even if it is related to this case, so long as the disclosure comports with the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct and all state and federal laws,” Sylvester wrote.

He declined, however, to offer further guidance.

In an earlier filing, prosecutors expressed reservations about releasing new information. Defense attorneys outright opposed changes to the gag order.

The attack on the Century Aurora 16 theater killed 12 people and wounded 58. Suspect James Holmes faces 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other crimes in connection with the shooting. Sylvester issued a gag order — strictly limiting what attorneys and law enforcement officers can say — with the intention of protecting the case’s integrity.

No trial date in the case has been set. The next hearing, at which Holmes could enter a plea, is scheduled for March 12.