Information that the Aurora theater shooting defendant posted on two online dating websites will be allowed at trial, the judge overseeing the case ruled Thursday.

Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour wrote in an order that James Holmes had no expectation of privacy in postings that he intended to be viewed by other members of the sites.

“It is significant that his main purpose was not to have a private conversation through a private instrument from the privacy of his home or office,” Samour wrote in the ruling. “It was to have his identification and very personal information disseminated to other participants in the websites in order to secure a date or to start a relationship or a friendship.”

Defense attorneys had challenged prosecutors’ intended use of the dating website information by arguing that Holmes has a constitutional right to protection of private information. Samour, in dismissing the argument, notes that information about the dating profiles — on Match.com and AdultFriendFinder.com — was quickly discovered and reported by the gossip-news site TMZ.

On the profiles, Holmes posted the question of prospective partners, “Will you visit me in prison?” Prosecutors have argued the question can be used to show Holmes’ mental state before the shootings. Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the attack, in which 12 people were killed and dozens more wounded.

Samour has previously denied a defense bid on other grounds to toss the dating website information.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com