Title: Sirratt v. State
Citation: 398 S.W.2d 63
Docket Number: 5147
State: Arkansas
Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court
Date: January 17, 1966

398 S.W.2d 63 (1966) James SIRRATT, Appellant, v. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee. No. 5147. Supreme Court of Arkansas. January 17, 1966. Joe W. McCoy, Malvern, for appellant. Bruce Bennett, Atty. Gen., by Beryl F. Anthony, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Little Rock, for appellee. HARRIS, Chief Justice. Appellant, James Sirratt, was charged with the crime of murder in the second degree, the Information alleging that Sirratt feloniously, and with malice aforethought, killed and murdered his wife, Geraldine Sirratt. The trial commenced in Hot Spring County on January 18, 1965. and ended on the 20th day of January, 1965. Sometime in the afternoon, on January 19, an altercation took place in the corridor outside the courtroom. The court ordered the courtroom cleared of all spectators, appellant objecting on the basis that he was being deprived of a public trial. The next morning, when the trial resumed, the court again cleared the courtroom. Later in the day, the jury retired and reached its verdict, finding Sirratt guilty of voluntary manslaughter, and fixing his punishment at five years imprisonment in the State Penitentiary. From the judgment so entered, appellant brings this appeal. While appellant lists five points for reversal, all relate to the same issue, which is, "Was Sirratt denied a public trial in violation of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article 2, Section 10, of the Arkansas Constitution? *64 "[1] That, then, is the sole issue before us. Pertinent facts relating to this issue are as follows: On January 19, while appellant was being cross-examined, the court suddenly called a recess, and retired to chambers where the following proceedings took place: Thereupon, proceedings in chambers concluded. Following this action, a rather lengthy cross-examination of appellant was conducted by the Prosecuting Attorney, after which there was a re-direct examination, following which another witness testified. The court then recessed until 9:00 o'clock the next morning. At that time, in open court, the court stated: Another witness then testified, after which instructions were given, and the case submitted to the jury. We are aware of only two Arkansas cases on this subject. The first is Hogan v. State, 191 Ark. 437, 86 S.W.2d 931. There, appellant was tried and convicted of raping a ten-year-old girl, and was sentenced to death by electrocution. Among other assignments of error, the appellant urged that the trial court erred in excluding the public from the courtroom, thus depriving him of his constitutional right to a public trial. This court said: The court then quoted 16 C.J., Page 807, Paragraph 2052, which, in part, states: The court then quoted from State v. Damm, 62 S.D. 123, 252 N.W. 7, 104 A. L.R. 430. The other Arkansas case is Payne v. State, 226 Ark. 910, 295 S.W.2d 312. There, appellant complained that he was not allowed a public trial because several Negroes were not allowed to enter the courtroom. Appellant's attorney objected, and the trial judge stated that he saw no vacant seats, and overruled the objection. We held that no error was committed. But the situations that existed at these trials were considerably different from the situation here presented. In Hogan, a little girl, ten years of age, embarrassed at testifying to revolting and lewd facts before a crowded courtroom, was frightened to the extent that she was a most unsatisfactory witness. As a matter of calming down the child, the trial judge cleared the courtroom for ten minutes. As stated in Levine v. United States, 362 U.S. 610, 80 S. Ct. 1038, 4 L. Ed. 2d 989; Page 2139 of 4 L.Ed.2d: As to Payne, the general rule is found in 21 Am.Jur.2d 301, Section 263: *66 It is apparent that in ordering a courtroom cleared for a short period of time to hear evidence of a vile nature, and in prohibiting people from entering a courtroom when there are no vacant seats, a court does not violate a defendant's right to a public trial, but, of course, these situations have no application to the facts of this case. The purpose of a public trial is succinctly expressed in 21 Am.Jur.2d 298, Section 258, where it is stated: We are of the view that, from the record before us, appellant's constitutional rights were violated. Of course, the court has inherent power to take necessary steps to preserve order and decorum in the courtroom, and no one could logically argue otherwise. Here, however, the Although not argued by the state, it might be mentioned here that the fact that the court offered to permit the defense attorney to designate certain persons to remain in the courtroom, "the ones necessary for his defense," does not prevent the court's action from constituting error. See United States v. Kobli (1949 C.A.3d Pa.) 172 F.2d 919. The state, in its brief, does point out that at the time of the exclusion order, twenty-four witnesses had already testified, and the accused was at the time testifying on cross-examination.[4] The state says, "The fact remains that most of the trial had been concluded before exclusion of spectators." It is also pointed out that when the trial resumed the next day, appellant did not renew his objection to the exclusion of the public. As stated in 21 Am.Jur.2d 299, Section 260: We do not think it was necessary for this objection to be renewed since counsel had made it very clear on the day before that he was objecting and excepting to the court's order clearing the courtroom. Be that as it may, we think reversible error was committed when the public was excluded on January 19. As set forth in 21 Am.Jur.2d 304, Section 269: Reversed and remanded. COBB, J., not participating. [1] Amendment 6 to the Federal Constitution provides: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, * * *." Article 2, Section 10, of the Arkansas Constitution, provides: "In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial * * *." [2] Emphasis supplied. [3] Of course, had this been the case, a proper remedy would have been to remove move those particular spectators from the courtroom. [4] One other witness testified before court adjourned for the day.