State v. Duckett

¶1 We recently addressed the same question presented in this appeal. State v. Frawley, 140 Wn. App. 713, 167 P.3d 593 (2007). During voir dire, the trial judge here questioned selected jurors individually in the jury room, based on their responses to a questionnaire that asked about their experiences with sexual abuse. Nicholas Duckett waived his right to be present. However, the court *801never advised Mr. Duckett of his right to a public trial, nor asked him to waive this right. We conclude, as we did in Frawley, that this procedure violates a criminal defendant’s public trial right and reverse…