Kobe Leaves Colorado Without Trial Date

EAGLE, Colo. – Attorneys wrapped up closed-door arguments Tuesday over whether the sex life of the woman accusing Kobe Bryant (search) of rape can be introduced at the NBA (search) star's trial.

More written arguments are due next week. That means Judge Terry Ruckriegle (search) will not make his decision until next month.

Bryant left Colorado after a two-day hearing without learning his trial date. But attorneys said they could be ready for trial by late August.

State court spokeswoman Karen Salaz said 1,000 summonses will be sent to prospective jurors — four times the usual number.

The high number is needed because of the publicity the case has drawn and because of the transient nature of the Eagle County population, home to Vail and other ski resorts. The judge said it is typical for one-third to one-half of those summoned for jury duty here not to respond.

"It all boils down to the intense publicity," said Howard Varinsky, a jury consultant based in Oakland, Calif. "It's nearly impossible to find people who haven't heard of the case."

He said prospective jurors will be questioned to determine whether they have formed an opinion on Bryant's guilt or innocence.

Bryant, 25, has pleaded not guilty, saying he had consensual sex with the woman at a Vail-area resort last summer. If convicted, the Los Angeles Lakers star faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine of up to $750,000.

Bryant's attorneys want to introduce evidence they say will show the woman had multiple sexual partners during the week of her encounter with Bryant.

They have suggested that the woman had a scheme to attract attention from an ex-boyfriend, and that her injuries could have been caused by sex with someone other than Bryant.

Prosecutors say the woman's sex life is irrelevant in determining whether she was raped. Under Colorado's rape shield law, the sex life of the alleged victim in a rape case is generally inadmissible, but there are exceptions.

The issue has been the subject of closed-door hearings dating back to March.