Document: 457 U.S. 596 102 S.Ct. 2613 73 L.Ed.2d 248 GLOBE NEWSPAPER COMPANY, Appellantv.SUPERIOR COURT FOR the COUNTY OF NORFOLK. No. 81-611. Argued March 29, 1982. Decided June 23, Syllabus Appellee Massachusetts trial court, relying on a statute providing for exclusion of general public from trials specified sexual offenses involving victim under age 18, ordered press and courtroom during defendant charged with rape three minor girls. Appellant newspaper publisher challenged order, ultimately, after had resulted in defendant's acquittal, Supreme Judicial Court construed as requiring, all circumstances, testimony sex-offense trial. Held : 1. The fact that order expired completion at which was acquitted does not render controversy moot within meaning Art. III. is "capable repetition, yet evading review," since it can reasonably be assumed appellant will someday subjected to another criminal are typically short duration. Pp.602-603 2. statute, by Court, violates First Amendment applied States through Fourteenth Amendment. Pp. 603-607. (a) To extent embraces right access trials, ensure constitutionally protected "discussion governmental affairs" an informed one. particular properly afforded protection both because such have historically been open plays particularly significant role functioning judicial process government whole. 603-606. (b) absolute, but circumstances barred limited. State must show denial necessitated compelling interest narrowly tailored serve interest. Pp.606-607 3. cannot justified basis either State's protecting victims sex crimes further trauma embarrassment or its encouraging come forward testify truthful credible manner. 607-610. Compelling first is, justify mandatory closure rule. Such could just well served requiring court determine case-by-case whether legitimate concern victim's well-being necessitates closure. approach ensures constitutional gain restricted except where necessary protect 607-609. second asserted only speculative empirical terms also serious question matter logic common sense. Although bar testimony, denied transcript, personnel, any other source provide account thus prevent publicizing substance identity. Pp.609-610. 383 Mass. 838, 423 N.E.2d 773, reversed. James F. McHugh, III, Boston, Mass., appellant. Mitchell J. Sikora, Jr., appellee. Justice BRENNAN delivered opinion Court. 1 Section 16A Chapter 278 General Laws,1 requires judges, exclude victim. presented 2 * case began when appellant, Globe Newspaper Co. (Globe), unsuccessfully attempted conducted Superior County Norfolk, Commonwealth Massachusetts. forcible forced unnatural girls who were minors time trial—two 16 years one 17. In April 1979, hearings several preliminary motions, judge closed.2 Before began, moved revoke this hold future orders, permit intervene "for limited purpose asserting rights related motions." App. 12a-14a. Globe's motions,3 Mass.Gen.Laws Ann., ch. 278, § (West 1981), immediately objected prosecution stated purposes record issued court's "own motion request Commonwealth." 18a. 3 Within hours sought injunctive relief justice Massachusetts.4 next day hearing, Commonwealth, "on behalf victims," waived "whatever [might] [had] press." Id., 28a.5 Nevertheless, denied. appealed full proceeded acquitted. 4 Nine months conclusion trial, judgment, dismissing appeal. held rendered nevertheless would proceed merits, issues raised "significant troublesome, . 'capable repetition review.' " v. 379 846, 848, 401 360, 362 (1980), quoting Southern Pacific Terminal ICC, 219 498, 515, 31 279, 283, 55 L.Ed. 310 (1911). As statutory matter, agreed did require entire provision designed, determined, "to encourage young forward; once they forward, designed preserve their ability them undue psychological harm trial." 860, N.E.2d, 369. Relying these twin purposes, concluded required victims; portions "a judge's sound discretion." 864, 371. pass contentions attend Sixth Amendments, noting await Court's decision—then pending—in Richmond Newspapers, Inc. Virginia, 448 555, 100 2814, 65 973 (1980).6 5 then Following our decision we vacated judgment remanded consideration light decision. 449 894, 101 259, 66 124 (1980). 6 On remand, adhering earlier construction 16A, considered Newspapers invalidation rule 16A. 773 (1981).7 analyzing issue,8 recognized there "an unbroken tradition openness" trials. 845, 2d, 778. But discerned "at least notable exception" tradition: "In cases assaults, closed some segments public, even adult." emphasized 16A's furthered "genuine interests," identified underlying provision. These interests, stated, "would defeated if determination used." 851, 779. While acknowledging mandatory-closure requirement results "temporary diminution" "the public's knowledge about trials," think "that require[d] requirement, given statute's narrow scope area traditional sensitivity needs victims." 781. accordingly dismissed appeal.9 7 again review We noted probable jurisdiction. 454 1051, 594, 70 586 (1981). For reasons follow, reverse, contained Amendment.10 II 8 challenges portion approved Massachusetts, holds requires, Because acquitted, consider outset live remains. Under 2, Constitution, jurisdiction extends actual controversies. Nebraska Press Assn. Stuart, 427 539, 546, 96 2791, 2796, 49 683 (1976). "The has recognized, however, necessarily simply attacked expired, dispute between parties Ibid., U.S., S.Ct., 283. 9 indeed review." It Globe, serving Boston metropolitan area, See Gannett DePasquale, 443 368, 377-378, 99 2898, 2904, 61 608 (1979); 563, 2820 (plurality opinion). And "short duration," ibid., likely "evade review, plenary Court." supra, 547, 2797. therefore conclude before us turn merits. III A. 10 recent firmly established no case, seven Justices embodied Amendment, 558-581, 2818-2830 opinion); id., 584-598, 2832-2839 (BRENNAN, J., concurring judgment); 598-601, 2839-2841 (STEWART, 601-604, 2841-2842 (BLACKMUN, judgment).11 11 Of course, explicitly mentioned Amendment.12 long eschewed "narrow, literal conception" Amendment's terms, NAACP Button, 371 415, 430, 83 328, 336, 405 (1963), Framers concerned broad principles, wrote against background shared values practices. enough encompass those that, while unambiguously enumerated very nonetheless enjoyment rights. 579-580, n. 16, 2828-2829, opinion) (citing cases); 587-588, 4, 2833-2834, judgment). Underlying understanding major free discussion affairs,"Mills Alabama, 384 214, 218, 86 1434, 1436, 484 (1966). By offering protection, serves individual citizen effectively participate contribute republican system self-government. Thornhill 88, 95, 60 736, 740, 84 1093 (1940); 2833-2834 575, 2826 (the "expressly guaranteed freedoms" "share core assuring freedom communication matters relating government"). Thus 12 Two features system, various opinions together explain why First, public. "[A]t organic laws adopted, here England presumptively open." 569, 2823 time, presumption openness remained secure. Indeed, re Oliver, 333 257, 68 499, 92 682 (1948), so solidly grounded "unable find single instance camera federal, state, municipal history country." 266, 504 (footnote omitted). This uniform viewed "because Constitution carries gloss history," accessibility implies favorable experience." 589, 2834 judgment).13 13 Second, Public scrutiny enhances quality safeguards integrity factfinding process, benefits society whole.14 Moreover, fosters appearance fairness, thereby heightening respect process.15 broadest permits check upon process—an essential component structure self-government.16 sum, institutional value experience. B 14 stature, absolute. 581, 2830, 18 570, 2808. limited; justification denying weighty Where, present attempts deny inhibit disclosure sensitive information, shown interest, See, e.g., Brown Hartlage, 456 45, 53-54, 1523, 1529, 71 732 (1982); Smith Daily Mail Publishing Co., 97, 101-103, 2667, 2669-2671, 399 438, 340.17 now state interests advanced support Massachusetts' barring victims. IV 15 though articulated ways, reducible two: embarrassment; encouragement manner.18 turn. agree appellee interest—safeguarding physical minor19—is rule, clear may affect significance A welfare victim.20 Among factors weighed age, maturity understanding, nature crime, desires victim,21 parents relatives. contrast, seek suffer injury presence.22 us, example, names already record,23 indicates victimsmay willing despite presence press.24 If permitted exercise discretion, might deemed unnecessary. short, means accommodating interest: That interest.25 17 Nor Commonwealth's interest—the accurate testimony. offered claim automatic lead increase number coming cooperating authorities.26 Not bars victims, possible his her depends keeping secret, hardly advances effective doubtful sufficient overcome attack, same relied array rules forward: Surely suggested crime who, publicity attendant reluctant testify. argument based proves too much, runs contrary foundation Newspapers: namely, inheres justice." 573, 2825 V foregoing reasons, Constitution.27 Accordingly, 19 Reversed. 20 O'CONNOR, judgment. 21 protects I do interpret shelter every "necessary rights." Ante, 604. Instead, rests special value, accused, openness. plurality stresses, "it difficult out aspect higher importance people than manner conducted." 2826. Thus, neither nor today carry implications outside context 22 involve involves mandating certain explains, demonstrated application cases, victim, defendant, prosecutor objection concur 23 Chief BURGER, whom REHNQUIST joins, dissenting. 24 Historically gone great lengths prohibiting release offenders, juvenile proceedings, sealing records proceedings. Yet unconstitutional crimes. doing so, disturbing paradox. states permitted, mandate proceedings 17-year-old rape, closing part innocent child raped otherwise sexually abused. 25 tried make holding authority legislatures enact more drawn statutes giving judges discretion 611, 27. read foreclosing mandates agrees court.1 gross invasion state's duty citizens—in crime. expansive interpretation cavalier rejection supporting dissent. 26 seems spelling aspects circumstances. 605, 13. plainly incorrect. examined places traditionally public" generally throughout country's England. majority historical 564-573, 2821-2825; 589-591, 2834-2835 599, 2840 601, 2841 proper mode analysis followed determining BRENNAN: "As previously noted, resolution claims strongly influenced weight practice assessment specific structural circumstances." 597-598, 2838-2839. 27 Today ignores practice. There clearly minors. Harris Stephens, 361 F.2d 888 (CA8 1966), cert. denied, 386 964, 87 1040, 113 (1967); Reagan United States, 202 488 (CA9 1913); Geise, 158 F.Supp. 821, Alaska 461 (Alaska), aff'd, 262 151 1958), 842, 80 94, (1959); Hogan State, 191 Ark. 437, S.W.2d 931 (1935); Purvis, 157 Conn. 198, 251 A.2d 178 (1968), 395 928, 89 1788, 246 (1969); Moore Ga. 648, 108 S.E. 47 (1921), appeal dism'd, 260 702, 43 98, 67 471 (1922).2 Several longstanding provisions allowing assaults minors.3 28 misrepresent "unbroken, uncontradicted history" abuse 2825. Absent openness, positions joining reversal give proposition Amendment.4 29 assert discerns absolute; instead, "State interest." 606-607. wooden rigid standard asserts inappropriate. media information what takes place acknowledges, transcript sources Even identity record, although name 16-year-old accused rapist record. 119, 60A Supp.1982-1983). nothing whatever disclosure. quite unlike others dissemination ideas. Landmark Communications, 435 829, 98 1534, 56 (1978); (1976); Cox Broadcasting Corp. Cohen, 420 469, 95 1029, 328 (1975); (1963). 30 enacting assurance moderate trauma, embarrassment, humiliation having reveal intimate details assault front large group unfamiliar spectators—and perhaps television audience—and lower barriers reporting dread 865, 372 (1980); 847-848, 779 Neither law effect primarily information; verbatim made available used without limit. need examine restrictions imposed reasonable override incidental effects 580-581, 2829-2830 600, (Stewart, Pell Procunier, 417 817, 94 2800, 41 495 (1974); Saxbe Washington Post 843, 2811, 514 New Hampshire, 312 762, 85 1049 (1941). Our obligation balance competing interests: instant access, half states, include coverage. 32 me, beyond doubt, considering minimal impact overriding unconstitutional. acknowledges prompt Their additional actually being minimal. power children, admits victimized 607. meets test supra. 33 precisely overrides law's Certainly law, excludes rationally severe—possibly permanent damage. disputed reality.5 34 rational response undisputed problem underreporting rapes offenses. rejects report crimes, finding "speculative [and] sense." 609-610. disregard reality human makes sense criticize failure offer data rule; experimentation evidence produced. "It happy incidents federal courageous may, citizens choose, laboratory; try novel social economic experiments risk rest Ice Liebmann, 285 262, 311, 52 371, 386, 76 747 (1932) (Brandeis, dissenting). Chandler Florida, 560, 802, 812, 740 (1981); Reeves, Stake, 447 429, 441, 2271, 2279, 244 Whalen Roe, 429 597, 20, 97 869, 875, 51 64 (1977). 35 concludes assertion reduce fails "as misperception overly view seeks afford apparently believes prevented discovering 2622. intended confidentiality, severe damage caused relate crowd inevitably voyeuristic strangers.6 most expanded audience, reruns evening news. ordeal adult; child, experience devastating leave scars.7 36 statute. discretionary, soundly avoid unnecessary families entitled protection. legislature act irrationally deciding idiosyncracies subject pressures media. considerable distress prior appearance, wondering, absence required. mere possibility cause children decide heinous If, psychologists report, almost traumatic itself,8 certainly should able take steps trauma. Furthermore, expect aware nuances law; person sees newspaper, television, reports deterred belief alleviate understandable fears 37 [that] consistently absolute irrebuttable. acknowledged Stewart's separate pointedly sensibilities youthful witness rape." 5, 2840, 5.9 relatively gives Paradoxically, denies kind routinely juveniles commit Many reconcile often expressed callous indifference exhibited suffered abuse, modest Legislature provided. 38 STEVENS, 39 duration shorter invoked merits announced. result, pretrial midtrial orders implicating rested exception mootness doctrine 2820, 973; 608; 546-547, 2796-2797, 683. 40 expands constitutionality presently construed, never controversy. cited above, governing materially changed own terms. consequently 'that complaining party action again.' 377, 2904 (quoting Weinstein Bradford, 147, 149, 347, 348, 46 350). construed—and upheld abstract—the bears function respects. recently newsworthy matter. ante, 603; 582, 2830 (STEVENS, concurring). developing jurisprudence, concrete facts. Cf. Minnick California Dept. Corrections, 452 105, 120-127, 2211, 2219-2223, 706; Raines, 17, 21, 519, 522, 524. Only controversies how accommodated societal defendants. advisory announces sheds virtually accommodated. 42 entertain facial attack answered Bates Bar Arizona, 433 350, 380-381, 2691, 2707-2708, 53 810; Young American Mini Theatres, Inc., 50, 61, 2440, 2447, 310. coextensive expression vindicated Assn., supra.1 bear deter activity way sometimes interfere expression, follow norm reviewing rather face. when, ever, confront partial-closure hypothesized instead entered appealed. At press, prosecutor, defense counsel argued facts relevant different framed appellate review. courts voluntarily direction Wilkins findings demonstrating mandated order. 852-853, 782 (concurring Or disclose partial acceptable. aside illumination provided controversies, pursuant advance policy avoiding premature adjudication questions;2 conceivable ever important interests. 44 Rather, entered, supported adequate findings. Normally, deficiency remand factfinding, itself, measured up standards. infeasibility course action—since expired—further demonstrates comment implicated advisory, hypothetical, and, best, premature.3 45 dismiss Gen.Laws provides pertinent part: "At complaint indictment incest, carnal sex, eighteen upon, alleged committed, presiding shall room, admitting persons direct case." sign marked 'closed' placed door, personnel turned away seeking entry." 362-363 (1980) refused file motions. 17a-18a. petition extraordinary filed 211, 1958 representative stated: "[O]ur position [was], judge, constitutional, outweighing [acts] literally consulted fully case. waives 28a. Some prosecuting attorney lobby conference she "spoke[n] each regarding excluding 48a. indicated "privacy concerns" "their privacy grandparents involved couple Ibid. according attorney, "wouldn't object included" obtain guarantee" attempt interview publish names, photographs, personal information. fact, 849, 780 discussions attorney. Quirico dissented, applicable issue arising then-completed 841, 775, contrast taken opinion, 2617, opportunity found violated Those rights, "personal rights" [could] original defendant." 776 he "without countervailing 852, 782. occasion POWELL took Newspapers. (1979), conferring 397-398, 2914. "Congress respecting establishment religion, thereof; abridging speech, press; peaceably assemble, Government redress grievances." U.S.Const., Amdt. argues always Brief 13-22. correct regard, see 423, 2928 dissenting part), unavailing. recognition open. Whether murder setting ) type assertedly restriction. Part III-B, infra. 596-597, 2838-2839 383, 2907; 428-429, 2930-2931 part). Levine 610, 616, 1038, 1042, 989 (1960); 268-271, 505-506, (1948); 570-571, 2824 595, 2837 596, 2838 394, 2912 (BURGER, C. concurring); 428, 2930 limitations resemble "time, place, manner" 63, 2448, n.18, (1976), strict scrutiny. 581-582, n.18 598, 2839 following described terms: "(a) institute complaints .; degradation, humiliation, demoralization, (c) enhance likelihood minors, confusion, fright, embellishment; (d) promote orderly administration (e) convictions." note measure lies injured testifying, incremental testifying individualized determinations denied: "Absent findings, public." omitted) (emphasis added). "[I]f wanted know imputed legislative justifications part, least, inapplicable." 853, (Wilkins, appears allow close Ala.Code 12-21-202 Ariz.Rule Crim.Proc. 9.3; Ga.Code 81-1006 La.Rev.Stat.Ann. 15:469.1 1981); Miss.Const., 3, 26; N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann. 632-A:8 (Supp.1981); N.Y.Jud.Law (McKinney 1968); N.C.Gen.Stat. 15-166 N.D.Cent.Code 27-01-02 Utah Code Ann. 78-7-4 (1953); Vt.Stat.Ann., Tit. 12, 1901 (1973); Wis.Stat. 970.03(4) (1979-1980). Fla.Stat. 918.16 (1979) (providing victims). statutes. impose sanctions publication lawfully obtained Cohn, (1975). (1979). meaningful, representatives "must heard exclusion." 401, 2916 (POWELL, mean, inquiry cross-examine concerning consistent conduct conferences. 2839, Without safeguarding determined merit form closure, brought bear. apart testify, improves credibility suggestion speculative. "[o]penness improve testimony." 2907 showing emphasize one: infirm. appropriate stand particularized said consented court. During interviewed publicity, attendance guarantees given: "Each [the victims] concerns basically concerns. difficulty obtaining guarantee print go school pictures them, happened reading paper, everyone happen then. used, wouldn't included. explained [a] conditional anything like put afraid of." "waive" gave privacy, probably themselves raise grave problems. Oklahoma District County, 430 308, 1045, 355 (1977); Stamicarbon, N. V. Cyanamid 506 532, 539-540 (CA2 1974), therein. Ala. Const., VI, 169 (1901) (repealed 1973); (1953). hard limiting principle analysis. reasoning hearing bench E. Hilberman, Rape Victim 53-54 S. Katz & M. Mazur, Understanding Victim: Synthesis Research Findings 198-200 studies commentator it: "Especially stress shame acts whose life revealed detail idly curious." Berger, Man's Trial, Woman's Tribulation: Cases Courtroom, 77 Colum.L.Rev. 1, 88 preventing learning ironic emphasizes seal severely encroaching upheld. supra ; L. Holmstrom Burgess, Rape: Institutional Reactions 222, 227 92-93; Libai, Protection Child Sexual Offense Criminal System, Wayne L.Rev. 977, 1021 (1969). Burgess nearly adult disturbed greater. Bohmer Blumberg, Twice Traumatized: 58 Judicature 390 2829-2830; (WHITE, 584, 2831 reporter side-bar conference, surely enjoin learned conference. "But fundamental face questions possible." Lovett, 303, 320, 1073, 1081, 90 1252 (Frankfurter, review" compatible settled questions, Franks Bowman Transportation 424 747, 756, 8, 1251, 1260, 444, capable less ripe subsequent occasions. "order" formulated abstract, ruling defer until

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