Ex Parte Columbia Newspapers, Inc.

Fifteen-year-old twin brothers were charged with the murder of their mother. Under § 20-7-430(5) of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976), it became the duty of the Family Court Judge to determine whether the cases would be tried in Family Court or transferred to the Court of General Sessions where the accused persons would be tried as if the offense had been commited by an adult. At the time of the motion hearing, the Family Court Judge excluded the press relying upon § 20-7-755 which states in pertinent part:

All cases of children shall be dealt with as separate hearings by the [Family]…