The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that judges must do everything possible to keep criminal trials open to the public; this includes during voire dire, or jury selection. A case underway in Dallas at the time of the high court’s ruling was ruled a mistrial because the judge had previously held voire dire behind closed doors.
Under the Constitution, defendants in a criminal case are entitled to a public trial. Having criminal cases open to the public encourages transparency and a sense of checks and balances.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Presley vs. Georgia involved a case where the defendant’s family was asked to leave the courtroom during jury selection. The opinion now states that the public must be permitted unless there are overriding safety concerns or other significant reasons not to.
The Dallas case underway is the City Hall corruption case that has been going on for quite some time. A new jury selection will take place as the first one was done without public presence according to the Dallas Morning News.
The Constitution and the justice system are set up to protect the rights of the accused. Because of this, there are numerous rules, laws, and procedures that must be followed in order to ensure a defendant receives a fair trial and treatment within the system.
From before the arrest to sentencing, there are many complex regulations in place to keep a criminal case on track. Although this is all set up in your, the accused, interest, it doesn’t always feel that way. When you are the one facing criminal charges, it most often feels like no one is on your side.
Whether you are facing white collar crimes, like those in the corruption case, or a small time drug charge, it can feel like everyone in the Texas court system is out to get you.
This is exactly why having a trusted defense attorney is so crucial when you are facing criminal charges. When up against DWI or assault charges, you want to be confident in the attorney you have chosen to represent you. Contact me today to discuss the details of your case and the possible defense strategies that we could use.
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