Alexander v. State

313 Ga. 521

FINAL COPY S21G0112. ALEXANDER v. THE STATE. BETHEL, Justice. A Banks County jury found Stephen Alexander guilty of several sexual offenses against his stepdaughters, both of whom were minors during Alexander’s trial. At trial, the two victims and a child advocate testified in a courtroom that was partially closed to spectators at the direction of the trial court. As discussed below, the improper closure of a courtroom is considered a “structural” error that results in reversal of a defendant’s conviction on direct appeal if the error was committed over objection. Alexander’s trial…