Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court
United States Supreme Court
478 U.S. 1 (1986)
Relevant factsFree
A magistrate closed nurse Robert Diaz's 41-day preliminary hearing, in a highly publicized multiple-murder case, at the defendant's unopposed request under a California statute permitting closure to protect a fair trial; Press-Enterprise (plaintiff) sought release of the transcript afterward, but the superior court (defendant) denied the request, and the California Supreme Court held no First Amendment right of access applied to preliminary hearings at all.
IssueFree
Whether the First Amendment right of access applies to preliminary hearings in criminal cases.