Richmond Newspaper v. Virginia

Stevenson (criminal on trial) moved to have the trial proceeding closed to the public. The Appellant moved to vacate the closure order. The trial court denied the motion. The Appellant moved to have the closure order overturned as a violation of the First Amendment.

Whether an order excluding public and press from a criminal trial violates their First Amendment rights?

The decision to close the courtroom was reversed

Various alternatives existed to satisfy the constitutional demand of fairness in a trial and the trial judge failed to show an overriding interest for excluding the public and press.