James Holmes wants to plead not guilty by reason of insanity to the killing of 12 people and the wounding of 70 others in the Aurora movie theater attack. 
 
 In a filing Tuesday, Holmes’ lawyers wrote they intend to “tender a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.” Holmes would need the judge’s permission to change his plea. The plea change could come as early as Monday, the next scheduled date in Holmes’ court case. 
 
 The notice filed Tuesday starts a series of dominoes in the case. 
 
 Because a judge entered a standard not guilty plea on behalf of Holmes — and over the objection of Holmes’ attorneys — at arraignment, Holmes’ attorneys will have to show “good cause” why they should be allowed to change the plea to insanity. 
 
 If the plea change is allowed, the judge will immediately order Holmes to undergo an independent mental-health evaluation — something that could potentially take months. 
 
 Meanwhile, Holmes’ lawyers will now likely re-submit their complaints that Colorado’s system for insanity pleas in death-penalty cases is unconstitutional. They have previously argued, for instance, that requiring Holmes to participate in the mental-health evaluation would violate his rights against self-incrimination. The judges overseeing the case, though, rejected those arguments at the time because Holmes hadn’t yet actually pleaded insanity. 
 
 In the notice Tuesday, Holmes’ lawyers write they made the filing, “[w]hile maintaining all previous objections and arguments regarding the constitutionality” of the insanity-plea laws. 
 
 Holmes is charged with 166 counts of murder, attempted murder and other offenses for the July 20 attack on the Century Aurora 16 movie theater. His attorneys have previously hinted that Holmes’ mental illness would feature prominently in his defense. 
 
 “[T]he reason the defense is considering entering an (insanity) plea is because Mr. Holmes suffers from a serious mental illness,” his lawyers wrote in a motion filed late last month. 
 
 Shooting survivors and family members of victims, however, have said they are suspicious of Holmes’ claims of mental illness, citing, for instance, the detailed planning Holmes allegedly put into the attack. 
 
 “He’s a hollow person, very evil,” Jessica Watts, the cousin of slain theater victim Jonathan Blunk, said after Holmes’ arraignment in March. “He’s absolutely not insane. … Just, he doesn’t seem like he does a whole lot to help himself. He doesn’t seem real interested in what’s going on in his own future.” 
 
 UPDATES TO THE STORY: http://bit.ly/18UsLQb ||||| Lawyers for the man accused of killing 12 people and injuring 70 in a Colorado movie theater said Tuesday he wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity. 
 
 Attorneys for James Holmes said in a court filing they plan to formally ask for the change of plea at a May 13 hearing. 
 
 A judge in the case previously entered a standard not guilty plea for Holmes. If the judge accepts the insanity plea, Holmes would be sent to the state mental hospital, where doctors would determine whether he was insane at the time of the July 20 shootings. 
 
 If the doctors do determine that Holmes was insane, a jury could still find him guilty. 
 
 The insanity plea was widely expected given the compelling evidence against Holmes. He is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. 
 
 Holmes' attorneys have said in court hearings and written in court documents that Holmes is mentally ill. He was being seen by a psychiatrist before the attack on a midnight screening of the latest Batman movie that killed 12 people and injured 70. 
 
 Prosecutors say Holmes spent months buying guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition, donned police-style body armor and opened fire in a crowded Aurora theater during a midnight showing of the latest Batman movie on July 20. Twelve people were killed and 70 injured 
 
 Holmes could be executed if he's convicted of more than 160 counts of murder and attempted murder. 
 
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 Follow Dan Elliott at http://twitter.com/DanElliottAP
– In a not-so-surprising development, accused Aurora shooter James Holmes plans to use the insanity defense. His attorneys filed papers today saying their client intends to plead not guilty by reason of insanity at a hearing next week, reports the Denver Post. If the judge goes along, doctors at a state mental hospital will determine whether Holmes was insane at the time of the July rampage that left 12 dead and 70 injured in a movie theater, reports AP. Even if they do, Holmes could still be found guilty by a jury, it adds. The 25-year-old had been seeing a psychiatrist before the shooting.