
§ 54.08. PUBLIC ACCESS TO COURT HEARINGS.  (a) Except as 
provided by this section, the court shall open hearings under this 
title to the public unless the court, for good cause shown, 
determines that the public should be excluded.
	(b)  The court may not prohibit a person who is a victim of 
the conduct of a child, or the person's family, from personally 
attending a hearing under this title relating to the conduct by the 
child unless the victim or member of the victim's family is to 
testify in the hearing or any subsequent hearing relating to the 
conduct and the court determines that the victim's or family 
member's testimony would be materially affected if the victim or 
member of the victim's family hears other testimony at trial.
	(c)  If a child is under the age of 14 at the time of the 
hearing, the court shall close the hearing to the public unless the 
court finds that the interests of the child or the interests of the 
public would be better served by opening the hearing to the public.
	(d)  In this section, "family" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 71.003.   

Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 1460, ch. 544, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.  
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 385, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 
1987;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 262, § 45, eff. Jan. 1, 1996;  
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1086, § 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

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Last modified: August 10, 2007