People v. Jelke

The significant question here posed concerns the power of the trial court to exclude members of the general public, including representatives of the press, from the courtroom during the trial of a criminal prosecution.

The issue arose in the trial of Minot F. Jelke, on widely publicized charges of compulsory prostitution (Penal Law, § 2460) and other offenses of like characfer^Penal Law, § 1148), in the Court of General Sessions of the County of New York. Shortly after the trial got under way, the presiding judge, Honorable Francis L. Valente, made an order, on his own motion and over…