Los Angeles Lakers' guard Kobe Bryant will be back in Colorado tomorrow. He will appear in an Eagle County courtroom for a pretrial hearing.

Earlier this week, Bryant's defense team filed a number of motions with the court.

KOBE BRYANT CASE Slideshow: Who's Who See Sensitive Juror Questions Bryant's Apology DA's Statement What's Next For Kobe? Accuser Will Always Be Known As 'Alleged Victim Bryant Case Flawed From Start Accuser's Statement Kobe Original Statement Wife's Original Statement Chronology Of Events D.A. Explains Dismissal The Ruling Comes Down Legal Experts Disagree On Strength Of Case Rape Victim Advocates Blast Kobe's Defense Team Prosecution Lays Out Case Against Kobe Bryant DA's Original Presser Civil Case Hurt Or Helped? Fair Jury Be Found Should Court Documents Be Published On Web? Race An Issue? Should Sheriff's Accept Bryant T-shirts? Case Goes To Trial: You Surprised? Testimony Change Your Mind? Sexual History Be Admissible? Release Accuser's Name? Kobe's Legacy Tarnished? Whose Story Do You Believe? Discuss Case Court Documents

"There will likely be dozens of motions filed in the weeks ahead but the motion that's getting the most attention right now deals with a detective who the defense said used deceptive practices to get a statement from the NBA star," said 7NEWS Legal Analyst Craig Silverman.

"He confronted Kobe Bryant in the wee morning hours of July 2, right after Kobe Bryant had surgery, not telling Kobe Bryant he had a tape recorder in his shirt pocket and not telling Kobe Bryant he had a warrant for him to be taken into custody and search warrant in his pants pocket," Silverman said.

Bryant's lawyers say evidence that stemmed from that 75-minute interview cannot be used because Bryant was never informed of his Miranda rights to remain silent and have an attorney.

Sheriff Joe Hoy and District Attorney Mark Hurlbert defended the investigators, saying they had no concerns with how they handled the investigation.

Medical records and patient confidentiality will also be discussed during Friday's hearing.

The NBA star's lawyers will argue they should be allowed to introduce the records of the woman accusing him of rape. They also will try to show mental problems might have affected her perception of what happened in a hotel room with Bryant last June.

The defense witness list is sealed, but prosecutors have confirmed the woman's mother was subpoenaed to appear. At least one friend also has been subpoenaed.

An attorney for the woman has asked the judge to close the courtroom for any testimony regarding her medical history. State District Judge Terry Ruckriegle has not ruled on the request.

Bryant, a 25-year-old guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation if convicted of felony sexual assault. Bryant, who has said the sex was consensual, will be at the hearing. The Lakers play the Denver Nuggets at home Friday night, though Bryant was unsure if he will back in time for the game.

"I don't know, I don't know, I don't know," Bryant said at practice Thursday. "We'll see how long it takes."

Analysts said the defense needs to do everything it can to undermine the woman's credibility at trial.

"The prosecution is desperate to say in closing, `Why would this woman make it up?' All the defense is doing is saying, `Judge, don't tie our hands behind our back, we want to give an answer,"' said Denver attorney Larry Pozner, former president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.

Among the records the defense wants to use are documents from the North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, where authorities brought the 19-year-old woman in February after determining she was a "danger to herself."

Defense lawyers Pamela Mackey and Hal Haddon have argued the woman tried to kill herself in February and again in May to get her ex-boyfriend's attention. They also say she had been prescribed an anti-psychotic drug.

The defense also wants access to notes taken during an interview of the woman by a worker for a rape victim's advocacy group. On Thursday, the judge granted a defense request for a hearing on whether those records can be released to the defense. He did not set a date for the hearing.

Bryant's attorneys could have a hard time obtaining the medical records: Under a 2002 Colorado Supreme Court decision, the records cannot even be reviewed by a judge in private unless the patient consents. In the Bryant case, the woman has not allowed the hospital to release any records.

In a court filing Thursday, Mackey said the woman discussed her medical condition and medications with a detective investigating the case -- a move that constitutes a waiver of her privacy rights.

The hearing is expected to last all day and 7NEWS will have updates throughout the day. There is no indication when the judge will rule on the motions.

A Jan. 23 hearing has been scheduled to hear arguments about the statements Bryant made to investigators that were secretly taped before he had been read his rights.

Additional Resources:

Closer Look At Motions
Colorado's Rape Shield Law

Related Articles:

December 15, 2003: Craig's Court: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
December 8, 2003: Craig's Court: A Tale Of Two Shirts
November 21, 2003: Craig's Court: The Wacko Jacko Impact On Kobe Bryant
November 20, 2003: Craig's Court: 101 Dull Motions
November 19, 2003: Craig's Court: Probable Cause Equals HIV Testing
November 18, 2003: Craig's Court: The Invitee and the Intruder
• November 13, 2003: Craig's Court: Non-Destructive Stalling In Kobe Bryant's Case
• November 12, 2003: Craig's Court: A Lawyer's Blog On The Bryant Case

Related Article:

• November 13, 2003: Tony Kovaleski: Inside The Courtroom