People v. Hines

At the conclusion of a hearing pursuant to People v Hinton (31 NY2d 71, cert denied 410 US 911), the defendant objected to closure of the courtroom to the general public and also requested that a Legal Aid attorney who had been observing the trial be allowed to remain in the courtroom during the undercover officer’s testimony. The Supreme Court ruled that the courtroom would be sealed to the public based on concerns over the safety of the officer and also ruled that unless the defense wished to make the Legal Aid attorney cocounsel, he would also be excluded.

On appeal, the defendant contends…