Opinion ID: 2085790
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Restrictions on Courtroom Access and the Rights of the Public

Text: Although Williams does not establish reversible error, it does not follow that the procedures were justified or properly taken. When a court authorizes procedures of this type it affects the openness of the proceedings in general with a potential impact not only on the defendant's rights, but also on the First Amendment rights of the press and the public to attend the trial. [10] Globe Newspaper, 457 U.S. at 596, 102 S.Ct. at 2613. A slight burden, such as identification, may hinder a person's ability or willingness to attend open proceedings on a given day. Perhaps more significantly, the free flow of ideas and information may be facilitated by anonymous monitoring of public proceedings, including courts. Even where the measure does not amount to a violation of the constitutional rights of the defendant, when access to public proceedings is impeded, even slightly, the right to be free to walk into court and assess our justice system in operation comes under threat. Any such restriction must be imposed only with proper justification. Accordingly, we require under our supervisory powers that the court make a finding that specifically supports any measures taken beyond what is customarily permitted that are likely to affect unfettered access by the press and public to the courtroom. The finding need not be extensive, but must provide the reasons for the action taken, and show that both the burdens and benefits of the action have been considered. [11] This exercise of supervisory powers applies to trials conducted after the publication of this opinion. The trial court in this case failed to provide such a record. The record shows that when defense attorneys learned of the scheme they objected and a colloquy ensued. It turned out that the procedures were implemented at the initiative of the prosecutor who made the request to law enforcement officials. They were then ratified by the court after the defense objected. The prosecutor said he requested the metal detector, wand, and presentation of identification because the same procedures were used in the federal trial of the same defendants on drug trafficking charges. [12] Further, he said the record keeping was his idea, prompted by his experience in a different trial where some of the witnesses and attorneys were threatened by spectators. Two of the defense attorneys protested that threats or other similar conduct had not occurred in this case and that there was no reason to suspect that threatening conduct would occur. The court then authorized all the procedures and specifically permitted the checking of records, so long as both sides had access to any information discovered. The court made no findings as to why the procedures were warranted. Because the court did not provide the reasons for its decision to authorize the procedures, and because the record does not clearly substantiate the need for these additional precautions, the trial court's condoning of use of the identification procedures does not meet the standard we announce today. As an abstract proposition, this kind of procedure seems likely to produce both a slight burden and a slight benefit. The taking of names is perhaps intimidating for some, but the practice also is likely to help control courtroom behavior. Because it alerts spectators that the court can identify them, it may discourage some who might otherwise have disrupted the proceeding in the hope of remaining anonymous. Accordingly, when considering this sort of procedure, a court must weigh the prospective benefits to the order and security of the courtroom with the burdens to the defendant, the press, and the public.