Bryant judge denies request

Online distribution of trial documents will continue

? The judge in the Kobe Bryant sex-assault case has rejected a request by the woman accusing the NBA standout of rape to stop placing court documents online — despite mistakes that have led to her name and other details being posted.

District Judge Terry Ruckriegle said he regretted the mistakes, but disagreed with attorneys for the 20-year-old woman who have suggested switching to a paper document system would have minimal impact.

The decision, written Friday, was released Monday.

Document requests in the case have amounted to 15,674 per month between Sept. 1, 2003 and July 26, 2004 — an average of 712 requests per work day, the judge said.

“For a small courthouse with a docket crowded with other matters that also require the clerks’ attention, there is simply no way that the current personnel can handle 712 additional document requests per day,” the judge said.

Eliminating electronic distribution would “result in having to hire and train 10 new employees at the Eagle courthouse, along with the attendant leasing of computers, office equipment, office space and additional copy machines,” the judge said.

Bryant, 25, has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault. He has said he had consensual sex with the woman, an employee of the Vail-area resort where he was saying last summer.