State v. Crowley

DURHAM, Justice:

Defendant appeals from a conviction of forcible rape on the ground that he was denied his right to a public trial under the Utah and United States Constitutions.

After the jury was sworn and opening statements were made at defendant’s trial, the State made a motion to exclude from the courtroom all spectators except a Rape Crisis Center worker. Asserting that the 15-year-old complainant was nervous and frightened, the State argued that the presence of her relatives and defendant’s in the courtroom would impair her ability to give testimony. The motion was based on Utah Code…