STATE EX REL. ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, LLC v. Garvey

I concur with the principal opinion. I write separately only to emphasize the last five words of the opinion, “except as provided by law,” that acknowledges the wisdom of our legislature in its astute drafting of section 211.171. The legislature was wise, because while providing an exception to the normal mandatory public exclusion in juvenile matters in instances where a juvenile faces severe felony charges, it correctly did not make the application of that exception mandatory in all instances, thereby abridging the defendant’s constitutional right to a fair trial.

“While it is clear the…