Opinion ID: 1722174
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Closure of pretrial hearing

Text: Mr. Hodge's counsel asked that a pretrial hearing be closed to the public on the ground that motions concerning the admissibility of evidence were to be considered and that the resulting publicity would be prejudicial to Mr. Hodge's case. The Trial Court denied the motion, citing Memphis Publishing Co. v. Burnett, 316 Ark. 176, 871 S.W.2d 359 (1994), a case over which he had presided and which resulted in a reversal due to a closed pretrial hearing. Mr. Hodge does not contend that the Trial Court lacked the authority, within his discretion, to hold the hearing open to the public. The decision is indeed within the discretion of a judge, and a hearing may be closed if it will result in irreparable damage to a party. Arkansas Television Co. v. Tedder, 281 Ark. 152, 662 S.W.2d 174 (1983). The argument here is that the decision was only a reaction to the Memphis Publishing Co . case and that no discretion was exercised. To the contrary, the Trial Court invited proof of the prospect of irreparable harm to Mr. Hodge and stated that he would reconsider the matter if it appeared at the hearing in question that it should be closed. No error occurred on this point.