People v. Vaughn

We granted defendant’s application for leave to appeal to determine whether defendant is entitled to a new trial because the circuit court closed the courtroom during voir dire in violation of defendant’s constitutional rights. We hold that a defendant’s right to a public trial is subject to the forfeiture rule articulated in People v Carines 2 and that the Court of Appeals erred by concluding that defendant’s failure to assert his public trial right necessarily “forecloses the later grant of relief.” 3 In applying the Carines forfeiture rule to defendant’s appeal, however, we conclude that…