A presumption of openness inheres in the very nature of a criminal trial under our system of justice. Instead of acquiring information about trials by firsthand observation or by the word of mouth from those who attended, people now acquire it through the print and electronic media. In a sense this validates the media claim of functioning as surrogates for the public. Justice Brennan-Public access is an indisppensable element of the trial process itself. The security of the Nation is not at the rampaarts alone.
Security also lies in the value of our free institutions.
These are troubled times. There is no greater safety valve for discontent than cynicism about the affairs of Government than freedom of expresssion in any form. This has been the genius of our institutions throughout history. It has been the credo of all our Presidents. It is one of the marked traits of our national life that distinguish us from other nations under different forms of government.