State v. Webb

The issue presented in this case is what, if any, relief should be available to a defendant who was duly convicted at a fair and errorless trial when it is determined on appeal that his preliminary hearing was closed in violation of the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.1

After a jury trial in the circuit court for Dane county, before Judge George Northrup, the defendant, Richard L. Webb, was convicted of first-degree sexual assault in violation of sec. 940.225(1)(d), Stats. 1985-86.2 The victim, a step-daughter of the defendant, *625was eleven years of age at the time of the…