{"id":61226,"date":"2026-07-22T13:14:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T20:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61226"},"modified":"2026-07-30T19:08:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T02:08:55","slug":"public-means-public-how-the-u-s-supreme-court-reaffirmed-the-right-to-open-courtrooms-in-presley-v-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61226","title":{"rendered":"LAW LIBRARY: Public Means Public: How the U.S. Supreme Court Reaffirmed the Right to Open Courtrooms in Presley v. Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"relative basis-auto flex-col -mb-(--composer-overlap-px) pb-(--composer-overlap-px) [--composer-overlap-px:28px] grow flex\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm\">\n<div class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\">\n<div class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-WEB:4cb81ce8-3748-46f5-98dc-0ee70a535c2b-2\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\">\n<section class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-WEB:4cb81ce8-3748-46f5-98dc-0ee70a535c2b-2\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-WEB:4cb81ce8-3748-46f5-98dc-0ee70a535c2b-2\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-2\" data-turn=\"assistant\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-15 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"0\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"b19976e0-7bd5-4a06-a476-d94512aa6660\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-instant\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\">\n<h1 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" title=\"\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"117\">\u00a0When criminal defendants go on trial in the United States, the Constitution promises more than just a lawyer and an impartial jury.<\/h1>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"119\" data-end=\"313\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong><em>It also guarantees that justice will be carried out in public.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" title=\"\" data-start=\"119\" data-end=\"313\"><strong>********<\/strong><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"527\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Public means public: That principle was at the heart of <strong data-start=\"350\" data-end=\"374\"><em data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"372\">Presley v. Georgia<\/em><\/strong>, a landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that reinforced the public&#8217;s constitutional right to observe criminal proceedings\u2014including jury selection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"315\" data-end=\"527\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Check out a new AI Video I just made!\" src=\"https:\/\/app.heygen.com\/embeds\/c11f8a7ebedf4f9599aa9fb29adcbd4e?t=127\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"529\" data-end=\"777\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Eric Presley was convicted in a Georgia state court in 2003 on drug-related charges. Before his trial began, the judge ordered everyone in the courtroom to leave during jury selection, including Presley&#8217;s uncle, who wanted to watch the proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"779\" data-end=\"1154\" data-speechifyplaybackhighlighter-highlight=\"true\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The judge explained there was limited seating and expressed concern that potential jurors might overhear conversations from spectators. Presley&#8217;s attorney immediately objected, arguing that closing the courtroom violated Presley&#8217;s constitutional right to a public trial under the <strong data-start=\"1059\" data-end=\"1078\">Sixth Amendment<\/strong>, a protection applied to state courts through the <strong data-start=\"1129\" data-end=\"1153\">Fourteenth Amendment<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_261\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-261\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-261\" src=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image-95x64.jpg 95w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/SupremeCourtWestPediment-Image.jpg 728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-261\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Courtesy U.S. Supreme Court<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"1156\" data-end=\"1485\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The trial judge rejected the objection and proceeded with jury selection behind closed doors. Presley was later convicted and sought a new trial, arguing that the courtroom closure was unconstitutional. Evidence later showed there was sufficient space in the courtroom to accommodate spectators without disrupting jury selection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1487\" data-end=\"1868\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Georgia&#8217;s appellate courts upheld the conviction. The courts reasoned that Presley had failed to propose alternative arrangements that would have allowed public access while addressing the judge&#8217;s concerns. In 2008, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the ruling, although two justices dissented, warning that the decision threatened the constitutional guarantee of open courtrooms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1870\" data-end=\"1921\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1923\" data-end=\"2000\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56044 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-flag-us-constitution-and-a-judges-gavel-symbolizing-the-american-justice-system-or-the-judicial-branch-of-government-judiciary-stockpack-adobe-stock-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"American flag, US constitution and a judge's gavel symbolizing the American justice system or the Judicial Branch of government ( Judiciary )\" width=\"375\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-flag-us-constitution-and-a-judges-gavel-symbolizing-the-american-justice-system-or-the-judicial-branch-of-government-judiciary-stockpack-adobe-stock-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-flag-us-constitution-and-a-judges-gavel-symbolizing-the-american-justice-system-or-the-judicial-branch-of-government-judiciary-stockpack-adobe-stock-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-flag-us-constitution-and-a-judges-gavel-symbolizing-the-american-justice-system-or-the-judicial-branch-of-government-judiciary-stockpack-adobe-stock-850x564.jpg 850w, https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/american-flag-us-constitution-and-a-judges-gavel-symbolizing-the-american-justice-system-or-the-judicial-branch-of-government-judiciary-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/>In <strong data-start=\"1926\" data-end=\"1934\">2010<\/strong>, the Supreme Court reversed Georgia&#8217;s decision by a <strong data-start=\"1987\" data-end=\"1999\">7-2 vote<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"2002\" data-end=\"2376\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Writing for the majority, the Court held that <strong data-start=\"2048\" data-end=\"2167\">jury selection is part of a criminal trial and is therefore subject to the Sixth Amendment&#8217;s public-trial guarantee<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p title=\"\" data-start=\"2002\" data-end=\"2376\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The justices ruled that trial judges have an affirmative duty to consider reasonable alternatives before excluding the public from the courtroom\u2014even when defense attorneys do not suggest those alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2378\" data-end=\"2814\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The Court emphasized that courtroom closures are permitted only under limited circumstances and only after judges make specific findings demonstrating that closure is necessary to protect an overriding interest, such as courtroom safety or ensuring a fair trial. General concerns about space limitations or the possibility that jurors might overhear comments from spectators are not enough by themselves to justify excluding the public.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2816\" data-end=\"2891\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">In reaching its decision, the Court relied on two earlier landmark rulings:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2893\" data-end=\"3223\">\n<li data-start=\"2893\" data-end=\"3036\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong data-start=\"2895\" data-end=\"2923\">Waller v. Georgia (1984)<\/strong>, which established strict constitutional standards that courts must satisfy before closing criminal proceedings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3037\" data-end=\"3223\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong data-start=\"3039\" data-end=\"3088\">Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court (1984)<\/strong>, which recognized that jury selection is generally open to the public because transparency promotes confidence in the judicial system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3341\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The Supreme Court sent Presley&#8217;s case back to the Georgia courts for further proceedings consistent with its ruling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3343\" data-end=\"3696\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">The decision reaffirmed a fundamental principle of American justice: <strong data-start=\"3412\" data-end=\"3534\">courtrooms belong to the public unless a judge can clearly demonstrate that closing them is constitutionally necessary<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3343\" data-end=\"3696\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Open trials help ensure fairness, discourage abuse, promote public confidence in the judicial system, and allow citizens to observe how justice is administered.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\">\n<div class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a611b84-e348-83e8-8d60-07b7ca8cd1a6-1\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\">\n<section class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-6a611b84-e348-83e8-8d60-07b7ca8cd1a6-1\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-6a611b84-e348-83e8-8d60-07b7ca8cd1a6-1\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-4\" data-turn=\"assistant\">\n<div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-15 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"0\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"cbff1ff0-4f59-4fdf-a282-cb1dc6725c7c\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5-instant\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\">\n<h2 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" title=\"\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"46\"><span role=\"text\">Fact Checklist: <em data-start=\"19\" data-end=\"39\">Presley v. Georgia<\/em> (2010)<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"48\" data-end=\"2593\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">\n<li data-start=\"48\" data-end=\"128\">\u2705 <span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Eric Presley was convicted in a Georgia state court on drug-related charges.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"227\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 During jury selection (voir dire), the trial judge ordered the courtroom closed to the public.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"228\" data-end=\"302\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Presley&#8217;s uncle was excluded from the courtroom during jury selection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"303\" data-end=\"454\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The judge cited limited courtroom space and concern that prospective jurors might overhear comments from spectators as the reasons for the closure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"455\" data-end=\"565\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Presley&#8217;s attorney objected, arguing the closure violated the <strong data-start=\"521\" data-end=\"540\">Sixth Amendment<\/strong> right to a public trial.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"566\" data-end=\"676\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The Sixth Amendment&#8217;s public-trial guarantee applies to state courts through the <strong data-start=\"651\" data-end=\"675\">Fourteenth Amendment<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"677\" data-end=\"753\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The trial judge denied the defense&#8217;s request to keep the courtroom open.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"754\" data-end=\"796\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Presley was convicted after the trial.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"797\" data-end=\"894\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Presley sought a new trial, arguing the courtroom closure violated his constitutional rights.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"1007\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Evidence later showed there was sufficient space to accommodate members of the public during jury selection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1008\" data-end=\"1065\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Georgia appellate courts upheld Presley&#8217;s conviction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1066\" data-end=\"1128\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the conviction in 2008.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1129\" data-end=\"1253\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Two Georgia Supreme Court justices dissented, warning the decision weakened the constitutional right to open courtrooms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1254\" data-end=\"1313\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Presley&#8217;s appeal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1314\" data-end=\"1411\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 In <strong data-start=\"1321\" data-end=\"1329\">2010<\/strong>, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Georgia Supreme Court in a <strong data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1410\">7-2 decision<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1412\" data-end=\"1557\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The Supreme Court ruled that <strong data-start=\"1445\" data-end=\"1556\">jury selection is part of a criminal trial and is protected by the Sixth Amendment&#8217;s public-trial guarantee<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1558\" data-end=\"1683\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The Court held that trial judges have an independent duty to consider reasonable alternatives before closing a courtroom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1684\" data-end=\"1764\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Judges must consider alternatives even if the defense does not propose them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1765\" data-end=\"1916\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 The Court ruled that generalized concerns about courtroom space or jurors overhearing spectators are insufficient to justify closing the courtroom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1917\" data-end=\"2067\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">\u2705 Courtroom closures are constitutional only when necessary to protect an overriding interest and when supported by specific findings on the record.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1\" data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr data-start=\"3698\" data-end=\"3701\" \/>\n<hr data-start=\"5114\" data-end=\"5117\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"5119\" data-end=\"5142\"><span style=\"font-size: 22px;\">How to Find the Case<\/span><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5144\" data-end=\"5183\"><span style=\"font-size: 22px;\"><strong data-start=\"5144\" data-end=\"5183\">Official U.S. Supreme Court Opinion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5185\" data-end=\"5230\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><em data-start=\"5185\" data-end=\"5205\">Presley v. Georgia<\/em>, <strong data-start=\"5207\" data-end=\"5230\">558 U.S. 209 (2010)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"5232\" data-end=\"5500\">\n<li data-start=\"5232\" data-end=\"5309\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Justia (full opinion): <a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/558\/209\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5257\" data-end=\"5309\">https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/558\/209\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5310\" data-end=\"5408\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law): <a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/supremecourt\/text\/09-5270\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5355\" data-end=\"5408\">https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/supremecourt\/text\/09-5270<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5409\" data-end=\"5500\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Oyez (case summary, oral arguments, and opinion): <a class=\"decorated-link cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5461\" data-end=\"5500\">https:\/\/www.oyez.org\/cases\/2009\/09-5270<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"5502\" data-end=\"5532\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">Related Supreme Court Cases<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"5534\" data-end=\"5757\">\n<li data-start=\"5534\" data-end=\"5633\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong data-start=\"5536\" data-end=\"5557\">Waller v. Georgia<\/strong>, 467 U.S. 39 (1984)<\/span>\n<ul data-start=\"5580\" data-end=\"5633\">\n<li data-start=\"5580\" data-end=\"5633\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/467\/39\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5582\" data-end=\"5633\">https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/467\/39\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5635\" data-end=\"5757\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><strong data-start=\"5637\" data-end=\"5679\">Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court<\/strong>, 464 U.S. 501 (1984)<\/span>\n<ul data-start=\"5703\" data-end=\"5757\">\n<li data-start=\"5703\" data-end=\"5757\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\"><a class=\"decorated-link\" href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/464\/501\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"5705\" data-end=\"5757\">https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/464\/501\/<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"5759\" data-end=\"6005\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><span style=\"font-size: 20px;\">These decisions remain the leading Supreme Court precedents establishing that criminal proceedings\u2014including jury selection\u2014are presumptively open to the public and may be closed only in narrowly defined, constitutionally justified circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"thread-bottom-container\" class=\"sticky bottom-0 z-10 group\/thread-bottom-container relative isolate w-full basis-auto has-data-has-thread-error:pt-2 has-data-has-thread-error:[box-shadow:var(--sharp-edge-bottom-shadow)] md:border-transparent md:pt-0 dark:border-white\/20 md:dark:border-transparent print:hidden pointer-events-none [--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] Ejxyja_threadFooterContentFade flex flex-col\">\n<div id=\"thread-bottom\">\n<div class=\"text-base mx-auto [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\">\n<div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 mb-(--thread-component-gap,24px) pointer-events-auto\">\n<div class=\"w-full\">\n<div class=\"pointer-events-auto relative z-1 flex h-(--composer-container-height,100%) max-w-full flex-(--composer-container-flex,1) flex-col\">\n<form class=\"group\/composer w-full\" autocomplete=\"off\" data-type=\"unified-composer\">\n<div class=\"relative\">\n<div class=\"bg-(--composer-surface-primary) cursor-text overflow-clip bg-clip-padding px-2 py-[9px] contain-inline-size motion-safe:transition-colors motion-safe:duration-200 motion-safe:ease-in-out group-not-data-expanded\/composer:min-h-[52px] group-not-data-expanded\/composer:py-[5px] grid grid-cols-[auto_1fr_auto] [grid-template-areas:'header_header_header'_'leading_primary_trailing'_'._footer_.'] group-data-expanded\/composer:[grid-template-areas:'header_header_header'_'primary_primary_primary'_'leading_footer_trailing'] max-sm:[grid-template-areas:'header_header_header'_'primary_primary_primary'_'leading_footer_trailing'] shadow-short-composer\" data-composer-surface=\"true\">\n<div class=\"-my-2.5 flex overflow-x-hidden ps-1.75 pe-1.5 [grid-area:primary] group-data-expanded\/composer:mb-0 group-data-expanded\/composer:ps-2.5 group-data-expanded\/composer:pe-2.5 min-h-14 items-center\">\n<div class=\"wcDTda_prosemirror-parent text-token-text-primary max-h-[max(30svh,5rem)] max-h-52 min-h-[var(--deep-research-composer-extra-height,unset)] flex-1 overflow-auto [scrollbar-width:thin] default-browser vertical-scroll-fade-mask group-data-[expanded-composer-mode-button]\/composer:pe-9\">\n<div id=\"prompt-textarea\" class=\"ProseMirror\" role=\"textbox\" contenteditable=\"true\" spellcheck=\"true\" translate=\"no\" data-virtualkeyboard=\"true\" aria-multiline=\"true\" aria-label=\"Chat with ChatGPT\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0When criminal defendants go on trial in the United States, the Constitution promises more than just a lawyer and an impartial jury. 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