SHREVEPORT, La. -- The First Amendment guarantees press and public access to court proceedings. Judges may impose reasonable restrictions, such as when there are space limitations or a proceeding involves a juvenile, but exceptions are to be limited.
But there is one Caddo Parish judge who reportedly regularly closes his courtroom. KTBS reporter Johnette Magner witnessed it firsthand.
Magner went to Caddo District Court Tuesday morning to follow through with her coverage of the pending criminal proceedings against Shreveport dentist John Allen Russ, who has been arrested twice for domestic violence. His first arrest in October was for strangulation and domestic abuse battery with serious bodily of his girlfriend. They are no longer together.
Tuesday, Russ was in Judge Chris Victory’s courtroom for a status conference. When Magner tried to access the courtroom where Russ’ case was being held, she was denied admission by bailiffs outside the door who said the judge had closed the courtroom. No reason was given.
Magner also witnessed the victim’s advocate for the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office arguing with the bailiff about victims not getting access to the courtroom. KTBS had been told by several sources with knowledge of courthouse operations that it’s not uncommon for Victory to close the courtroom during criminal proceedings.
KTBS later spoke with constitutional attorney Royal Alexander in broad terms about federal and state laws related to the reasons for and processes required to close a courtroom. He was not asked for an opinion on Victory’s decision to close his courtroom.
“The U.S. Supreme Court and the Constitution have made it clear we want public access to courts. Courts are public matters. They affect the public interest, and we are absolutely erring on the side of allowing access to a courtroom,” Alexander said.
Alexander says judges wishing to close a courtroom are also bound by certain procedures.
“The court has said we want this as narrowly tailored as possible. We really expect a judge to say in open court, on the record, why I feel like right now I need to close my courtroom. Those are fairly concrete steps, fairly concrete requirements for any judge in Louisiana who wants to close their courtroom, and that’s why I say respectfully, this is probably unconstitutional," Alexander said.
A check of the court record late Tuesday did not include any reference in the official minutes about Victory stating in open court his reason for closing the courtroom. KTBS was told sometimes the decision is made when there’s a full docket and not enough room in the courtroom. Magner observed the courtroom, which was not at capacity.
KTBS reached out to Victory Tuesday for comment, but did not get an immediate response. Wednesday morning, a clerk in Victory’s office contacted KTBS and said reporters are welcome at any time. No additional information was provided about how that relates to the public’s access to the courtroom.
As for the domestic violence case against Russ, it was continued until September.