The judge overseeing the Aurora theater shooting murder case has moved to quell a feud between prosecutors and defense attorneys that spilled behind-the-scenes details on plea negotiations into the public record.

In an order issued late Thursday and made public Friday, 18th Judicial District Chief Judge William Sylvester said Monday’s hearing in the case will go on as planned, despite this week’s spat.

On Wednesday, lawyers for accused gunman James Holmes revealed in a court filing that Holmes has offered to plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence in prison without parole. Prosecutors replied angrily on Thursday that Holmes has refused to meet their demands for a plea bargain and suggested that the defense disclosed the negotiations in a public court document as a publicity ploy.

As part of their filing, prosecutors asked Sylvester to toss out a separate defense motion for sanctions against the prosecution. That motion alleged that law enforcement officials had violated a gag order by leaking information to a Fox News reporter. In their Thursday filing, prosecutors said that dismissing the motion as punishment for disclosing the plea offer would make things square.

But Sylvester, in his order, said investigating the defense’s allegations is “an issue of contempt, not equity.”

In an earlier hearing, several law enforcement officials denied leaking information about a notebook Holmes mailed to his psychiatrist. Holmes’ attorneys have now subpoenaed the New York-based Fox News reporter to appear at Monday’s hearing and testify about her sources.

Sylvester said the hearing could reveal whether a law enforcement official committed perjury at the earlier hearing, making it a necessary proceeding.

“It is the responsibility of this Court to ensure that this issue does not infringe on the truth-seeking process or on the rights of the People, Defendant, or the public,” Sylvester wrote. “The mere fact that a new or additional violation exists does not vindicate a previous violation of a Court Order.”

Meanwhile, the Fox News reporter, Jana Winter, has indicated she will vigorously fight the order to testify on Monday. Attorneys for Winter filed hundreds of pages of legal documents this week, arguing that forcing Winter to testify will compromise her work as an investigative reporter.

In an affidavit filed with the court, Winter said the subpoena has intimidated her sources and harmed her First Amendment rights.

“I rely on the trust of my sources every single day,” Winter wrote. “If I am forced to reveal the identities of persons whom I have promised to shield from public exposure, simply put, I will not be able to function effectively in my profession, and my career will be over.”

In an order, Sylvester said he would entertain arguments about the subpoena on Monday, but he rejected a request by Winter that she not have to be present.

John Ingold: 303-954-1068, jingold@denverpost.com or twitter.com/john_ingold