Opinion
Argued February 21, 1984
Decided March 27, 1984
Appeal from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department.
Susanna E. Bedell and James E. Nelson for appellant.
Robert Abrams, Attorney-General ( Frederick L. Lieberman, Peter H. Schiff, George D. Zuckerman and Melvyn R. Leventhal of counsel), for Albert M. Rosenblatt, respondent.
William Stanton, Special Prosecutor ( B. Anthony Morosco of counsel), respondent, precluded.
William M. Kunstler for Lemuel Smith, respondent, precluded.
MEMORANDUM.
The judgment of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.
This is an article 78 proceeding by petitioner Poughkeepsie Newspapers, Inc., challenging an order of respondent Rosenblatt, Justice of the Supreme Court, excluding the public from a hearing to determine the admissibility of certain evidence in the murder trial of defendant Lemuel Smith. Respondent's closure order was proper for the reasons stated in the opinion of the Appellate Division ( 92 A.D.2d 232). Moreover, the trial court properly considered the interests of the jurors in reaching his determination. The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court in Press-Enterprise Co. v Superior Ct. of Cal. (___ US ___, 104 S Ct 819) does not require a contrary result. We add only that the Appellate Division did not abuse its discretion by retaining jurisdiction to determine this issue despite the fact that the subject hearing had concluded. ( Matter of Westchester Rockland Newspapers v Leggett, 48 N.Y.2d 430, 436-437.)
As neither party has challenged the portion of the Appellate Division's determination relating to petitioner's rights to a transcript of the hearing, we do not reach that issue.
Chief Judge COOKE and Judges JASEN, JONES, WACHTLER, MEYER, SIMONS and KAYE concur.
Judgment affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.