“All portions of a criminal trial must be open to the public, including selection of the jury, the US Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday. In an unusual summary order, the high court ruled 7 to 2 in favor of a convicted cocaine trafficker who claimed that his right to a public trial was violated when a judge in Georgia barred members of the public from the courtroom during jury selection. At the time, there was only one observer in the courtroom — defendant Eric Presley’s uncle. Mr. Presley’s lawyer objected to excluding members of the public. But the judge said there wasn’t enough room in the courtroom for the 42 prospective jurors as well as public observers.” (01/19/10)