Trial date set for Rayney defamation case

A trial date has been set for a multi-million-dollar defamation case by Lloyd Rayney against the state of Western Australia almost a decade after the barrister's estranged wife was murdered.

Mr Rayney is suing the WA government for being named by a senior police officer in 2007 as the prime and only suspect in the murder of Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney, who was found buried head-first at Kings Park.

He was found not guilty of murdering the mother-of-two in 2012 and a subsequent appeal was also dismissed.

A court hearing was held on Wednesday and a six-week trial was set, starting on February 27.

But a dispute remains about whether the case should be tried before a jury, with Mr Rayney's lawyer, Martin Bennett, indicating he opposed the idea.

Outside court, Mr Bennett told reporters the trial would involve a lot of records and examination.

"The act specifically envisages that where there's prolonged examination of documents the court has the discretion to order there shouldn't be a jury trial," he said.

Mr Bennett added the state would call the most witnesses during the trial.

Even if a jury does hear the case, an order of damages will be determined by a judge.

Mr Bennett estimated it would cost about $1 million just for a six-week trial for each party.

The matter will return to court on August 16.