DENVER -- In a memo to the media Thursday, outlining procedures for coverage of the Bryant trial, the court announced that Eagle County Chief District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle will oversee the case.

Ruckriegle served as a prosecutor in the Fifth Judicial District Attorney's office in Georgetown, Colo, for nine years. Ruckriegle has served on the district court bench since 1984 and has acted as chief judge of the 5th Judicial District since 1994. He sits primarily in Breckenridge, Colo., and Georgetown.

In other developments Thursday, the legal battle in the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case took a nasty turn, with prosecutors angrily accusing defense attorneys of leaking sealed details to the media.

In a court filing, District Attorney Mark Hurlbert asked a judge to consider punishing Bryant's defense team.

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The prosecutor said retired state District Judge William Jones learned of sealed information from defense attorney Hal Haddon and gave it to a reporter for the New York Daily News, which ran a story quoting Jones on Oct. 11.

The details -- that another man's semen was found in underwear worn by Bryant's accuser -- had not yet been brought up in Bryant's preliminary hearing, which ended Oct. 15.

Hurlbert also cited the defense's repeated use of the accuser's name during the hearing and questioning about the woman's sex history, which is normally kept secret under Colorado's rape shield law.

"In the past two weeks, the defense has been on a campaign to get information in the public domain that has been specifically prohibited by the court," Hurlbert wrote. "There appears to be a pattern (of) disregard for the court's orders that culminated with the Jones leak."

Punishment for contempt of court could include a fine, but sanctions are left up to a judge, prosecution spokeswoman Krista Flannigan said.

Neither Jones nor Haddon returned calls for comment Thursday. Jones earlier told The Associated Press he had been misquoted.

"I told them there obviously was other evidence of sexual contact but I was basing that on what I heard was said in court," he said.

Hurlbert said investigator Gerry Sandberg had interviewed both Jones and the newspaper reporter, who stood behind the story.

Jones told the investigator he had not spoken with Haddon for 10 years, Hurlbert said.

"Given that few people knew the information before the second part of the preliminary hearing, Jones does not appear to be telling the truth," Hurlbert wrote.

Hurlbert asked Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett to hold a hearing to determine whether Haddon violated a gag order on attorneys and others involved in the case.

Hurlbert said he would support a second investigation of leaks to the media. In September, investigators from neighboring Pitkin County wrapped up a similar investigation by concluding leaks were not coming from prosecutors or the Eagle County sheriff's office.

"Since Jones is being untruthful, maybe an independent agency may be able to get him closer to the truth," Hurlbert wrote.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard is accused of raping an employee at an exclusive mountain resort near Edwards in June.

Bryant, 25, is due in state district court Nov. 10 for his initial appearance, during which he will be advised of the felony sexual assault charge against him. He could enter a plea during that hearing.