Opinion ID: 1923817
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Was defendant denied his right to a public trial when the courthouse doors were locked during an evening session when the jury instructions were read?

Text: Defendant asserts the public was excluded from that portion of the trial at which the jury instructions were read, in violation of his right to a complete public trial. The issue was first raised by identical allegations in defendant's motion in arrest of judgment and in the application for new trial, without reference to either the United States or Iowa constitutions. Passing the issue whether any alleged error was thus preserved, we examine the merits of this contention. The record developed on this issue reflects final arguments in this case commenced at about 5:00 p. m. in the courtroom on the second floor in the Story County courthouse. Spectators were present for the arguments. The jury was excused for dinner, and was to return at 8:00 p. m. to receive the instructions. One of the two janitors testified the ground floor courthouse doors were locked at 5:00 p. m., apparently the customary practice. At about 8:00 p. m. defendant and his counsel came to the front door of the courthouse and were admitted by the janitor. The latter could not recall anyone else seeking admittance, although he was on the first floor until the trial concluded. Persons could obtain admission to the court-house by use of a call button at the front door or through the sheriff's office, which was at the back of the courthouse. Apparently the jury was let in and out the doors by the bailiff, who had a key. The trial judge did not leave his chambers on the second floor, but continued to review the instructions. He was unaware of any alleged exclusion. Defense counsel did not mention to trial court that the doors were locked or that a call button was used to gain access to the building. Following the evening meal recess there were no spectators in the courtroom. There was no evidence anyone had been excluded. Trial court overruled these grounds in the motion and application, asserting any alleged error was invited by defendant and counsel by their failure to call the court's attention to the locked doors, and any alleged error was waived by the same conduct. Defendant argues trial court impermissibly imposed on him a burden to show prejudice by its finding [t]here was no showing that other persons sought admission but were unable to get in. Defendant relies on State v. Lawrence, 167 N.W.2d 912 (Iowa 1969). In that case a bailiff misinterpreted the court's directions and excluded the public while the instructions were read to the jury. He in fact turned people away, including a newspaper reporter. The Lawrence court traced the historic underpinnings of an accused's basic constitutional right to a public trial. The court further observed that a public trial included the entire trial from the impaneling of the jury to the rendering of the verdict. Id. at 913-15. It rejected the State's contention that it was incumbent upon the defendant to show he was prejudiced or harmed by the exclusion of the public, id. at 916-17, and reversed and remanded for new trial. More recently, the United States Supreme Court in Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 100 S.Ct. 2814, 2830, 65 L.Ed.2d 973, 992 (1980), held that in absence of an overriding interest articulated in findings, the trial of a criminal case must be open to the public. It could not be closed, even on defendant's unopposed motion granted by trial court. See id. at ___, 100 S.Ct. at 2819, 65 L.Ed.2d at 979. The Court found the right of the public and press to be present and to observe the proceedings was implicit in first amendment guarantees. Id. at ___, 100 S.Ct. at 2829, 65 L.Ed.2d at 991-92. Against this backdrop we examine the facts that generate this issue. Because defendant alleges denial of a constitutional right, we make an independent evaluation of the totality of the circumstances. See Sims v. State, 295 N.W.2d 420, 422 (Iowa 1980); State v. Cullison, 227 N.W.2d 121, 126 (Iowa 1975). Although the prosecutor's failure to take this issue seriously resulted in a skimpy record, there is a clear inference access to this county courthouse was somewhat limited in the evening and nighttime hours. Whether the county jail was located in the structure does not appear, but the sheriff's office and presumably other offices were located on the ground floor. Access was available by ringing a doorbell at the main door and through the sheriff's office, which apparently was manned. Although the janitor (who remained on the ground floor throughout the relevant time) testified he would have sent persons he did not know to the sheriff's entrance, we find this was not an unreasonable obstacle to any persons wanting to hear the instructions read. While we do not approve the precautions, we find the access provided was not so restricted as to deprive defendant of his constitutional right to a public trial. In addition, we find defendant did not timely object to the procedure he claims deprived him of a public trial. Of course, a party alleging a constitutional violation in the progress of a trial ordinarily must show he or she lodged an appropriate objection at the earliest available opportunity in the progress of the case. State v. Paulsen, 293 N.W.2d 244, 247 (Iowa 1980); State v. Coffee, 182 N.W.2d 390, 395 (Iowa 1970); see State v. Pelelo, 247 N.W.2d 221, 225 (Iowa 1976). Defendant now considers it significant that there were spectators during the arguments but none following the dinner recess when the instructions were read. Surely it must have been even more significant at that time (assuming it was not simply loss of interest because the fireworks were over), when coupled with the experience of defendant and his counsel in having just been admitted to the courthouse by a janitor who unlocked an outside door. The appropriate time to have objected and to have called this situation to trial court's attention was then, when it easily could have been corrected. For these reasons, we hold this allegation of error is without merit. In so holding, we do not indicate a defendant's failure to object in such circumstances could affect the rights of nonparties to be present at a criminal trial.