Commonwealth v. White

The defendant, Timothy White, was convicted after a jury trial in the Superior Court of trafficking in cocaine, G. L. c. 94C. § 32E(¿>); larceny over $250, G. L. c. 266, § 30(1); and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, G. L. c. 94C, § 40.1 He filed a *492motion for a new trial claiming a violation of his right to a public trial under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and other alleged errors.2 After an evidentiary hearing, the motion judge, who was also the trial judge, allowed the motion.3 The judge ruled that the closure of the court room for the general questioning of the…