Opinion ID: 2197952
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Adequate findings

Text: Bobo argues that the district court did not make adequate findings regarding James' intimidation. He claims that if the district court had done so, it would have been better equipped to limit the closure to specific people, rather than the general public. When a district court determines that closing the courtroom in any manner is necessary, it must make adequate findings. Waller, 467 U.S. at 45, 104 S.Ct. 2210. While the district court did not make extensive findings at the time of its ruling, it did put more findings on the record later in the trial. The district court found that the prior presence of gang members might communicate an implicit threat that [James] was in danger if he testified in a way unfavorable to a fellow gang member. This finding was based on the district court's observations of the spectators and the evidence presented at the earlier hearing. The court made findings about the breadth of the closure, noting that the restriction was limited to James' testimony and the trial was not otherwise closed. The court further explained that it had considered the alternative of closing the courtroom only to those who would instill fear in James, but rejected it as untenable. The court was concerned that such a closure would be inconvenient, insulting, and an invasion of privacy. On this record, we conclude that the district court made adequate findings supporting the decision to close the courtroom, the breadth of that closure, and the absence of reasonable alternatives to closure. Therefore, Bobo's right to a public trial was not violated.