Case Name: State of Connecticut v. Michael Franzese
Court: Connecticut Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1990-09-18
Citations: 23 Conn. App. 433
Docket Number: 9479; 9484
Parties: State of Connecticut v. Michael Franzese
Judges: Spallone, O’Connell, Norcott, Foti and Cretella, Js.
Reporter: Connecticut Appellate Reports
Volume: 23
Pages: 433–434

Head Matter:
State of Connecticut v. Michael Franzese
(9479)
(9484)
Spallone, O’Connell, Norcott, Foti and Cretella, Js.
Argued September 18
decision released September 18, 1990
DavidS. Golub, with whom was Tanina Rostain, for the appellant (intervenor Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.).
Christopher Rooney, with whom, on the brief, was J. Charles Mokriski, for the appellant (intervenor Cablevision of Connecticut Limited Partnership).
JohnF. Kavanewsky, Jr., for the appellee (defendant).
This decision was released from the bench following argument.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The appellants, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc., publisher of The Advocate, a daily-newspaper with circulation in lower Fairfield County, and Cablevision of Connecticut Limited Partnership, operator of a television outlet serving the same area, were granted permission to intervene in this matter to object to the defendant's motion to close further bail proceedings from the public and the news media. They take this appeal, pursuant to General Statutes § 51-164x, from the decision of the trial court granting closure.
We have considered the record, briefs and arguments of counsel and are satisfied that the standards enunciated in Press Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U.S. 1, 106 S. Ct. 2735, 92 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1986), apply. The defendant has failed to show that there is a substantial likelihood that irreparable damage to a fair trial will result from conducting public proceedings. Nor has he shown that alternatives to closure will not adequately protect his right to a fair trial, or that closure will be effective in protecting against the preceived harm.
The order of the trial court closing further bail proceedings is vacated.