Case Name: STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of H.A
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2011-07-01
Citations: 64 So. 3d 233
Docket Number: No. 2011-CK-0960
Parties: STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of H.A.
Judges: KNOLL, J., would deny the writ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 64
Pages: 233–233

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of H.A.
No. 2011-CK-0960.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
July 1, 2011.

Opinion:
In re State of Louisiana; — Other; Applying For Supervisory and/or Remedial Writs, Parish of Jefferson, 24th Judicial District Court Div. C, No. 10-JU-393; to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, No. 11-K-403.
Writ Granted. La. Ch.C. art. 879(B) clearly states that "[a]ll proceedings in a juvenile delinquency case involving a crime of violence . shall be open to the public." La. Ch.C. art. 832 is not an exception to Article 879(B) in that Article 832 does not mandate that a hearing to determine a juvenile's capacity to proceed be closed to the public. Rather, Article 832 prevents further steps in the prosecution of the juvenile until the juvenile is found to have the mental capacity to proceed. Therefore, the ruling of the trial court is reversed, and the hearing concerning defendant's capacity to proceed shall be open to the public.
KNOLL, J., would deny the writ.