For the first time, lawyers for James Holmes have admitted he killed 12 people and wounded dozens more at an Aurora movie theater last summer, but they say he was “in the throes of a psychotic episode” at the time.

The admission came in a motion filed Tuesday but made public Wednesday.

“[T]he evidence revealed thus far in the case supports the defense’s position that Mr. Holmes suffers from a severe mental illness and was in the throes of a psychotic episode when he committed the acts that resulted in the tragic loss of life and injuries sustained by moviegoers on July 20, 2012,” the lawyers argue in the motion.

Holmes has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other offenses — a plea that stops just short of a confession. But this week’s motion is the first time Holmes’ attorneys have explicitly said he committed one of the worst mass shootings in American history.

The motion was one of two Holmes’ attorneys filed this week. Both sharply criticize Judge Carlos Samour’s decision that Holmes must be tethered to the floor during his trial.

Instead, Holmes’ lawyers say Holmes has “never once presented as anything other than compliant and well-behaved” during court appearances. Samour’s order, Holmes’ attorneys argue, is “incorrect, troubling and inhumane.”

In a separate filing, Holmes’ lawyers blasted the judge for meeting outside of the defense’s presence with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s department about courtroom security around Holmes.

In response, Samour defended the need for courtroom security, rejected the two motions and sharply scolded Holmes’ attorneys for filing them. Because of the charges against Holmes, Samour said, “it is not appropriate to allow him to be unrestrained at trial.”

“The defendant’s contention, while high on rhetoric, is low on substance, as it grossly and unfairly mischaracterizes the Court’s ruling,” Samour wrote in one order. “The Court chose the least restrictive form of restraint available and the one that could be hidden from the jury’s view.”

In a separate order, Samour rejected the defense’s argument that it was improper of him to talk with the sheriff’s department. Samour wrote that it is within his powers to arrange for courtroom security.

“This accusation is a serious one, and, without any basis for it, should not have been advanced,” Samour wrote. “Counsel are hereby admonished for doing so.”

Holmes is believed to be undergoing a court-ordered mental-health evaluation as part of his insanity plea. His trial is scheduled to start in February. Prosecutors seek the death penalty.

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