An Act relative to transparency in clerk magistrate hearings

This bill (HD 475) requires clerk magistrate hearings to be open to the public by default, unless a court makes a specific written finding that the defendant's privacy interest outweighs public access. To close a hearing, the court must hold a separate hearing on the record, state the specific reason for closure, and limit the closure to only what is necessary. All hearings must be recorded stenographically or transcribed. The bill directly affects defendants in clerk magistrate proceedings and the public's ability to observe these hearings.