New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. J.B.

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

STEIN, J.

The issue on this appeal is whether closure to the public of certain custody cases involving the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS or the Division) is mandated by Court Rules or statute. In this emergency-removal procedure instituted by DYFS, the trial court exercised its discretion in favor of admitting the press to the preliminary hearing. We granted the child’s law guardian leave to appeal and now affirm.

I

A

Defendant’s wife and infant child died in an automobile collision with a drunk driver. Defendant gained a degree of publicity…