People v. Smith

Defendant appealed from his conviction for first-degree murder and the appellate court reversed, finding that the trial court violated defendant’s right to a public trial when it excluded his mother from the courtroom. The Supreme Court reversed the appellate court, finding that the defendant’s right to a public trial was not violated because the courtroom remained open to the public even though defendant’s mother was temporarily excluded. (THEIS, NEVILLE, OVERSTREET, HOLDER WHITE, CUNNINGHAM, and ROCHFORD, concurring)