§ 6-202. Grounds for closure; waiver.

§ 6-202. Grounds for closure; waiver.

   Except as otherwise provided herein, upon motion of the defendant or one standing in the position of a defendant, even if known by another name and hereinafter called defendant, the court may consider excluding the general public from all or a portion of a proceeding at which:

   (A) the voluntariness of a confession may be seriously disputed and the admissibility of the confession will be a material issue either at the preliminary proceeding then before the court, or at a subsequent hearing, including the trial on the merits, and the court finds based upon evidence adduced that permitting the general public to be present during such proceeding is likely to result in substantially injuring or damaging the accused's right to a fair proceeding and that no other reasonable alternative exists to assure the defendant of a fair trial, or

   (B) the defendant is seeking to suppress evidence allegedly obtained illegally and the court finds based upon evidence adduced that permitting the general public to be present during such proceeding is likely to result in substantially injuring or damaging the accused's right to a fair proceeding and that no other reasonable alternative exists to assure the defendant of a fair trial.

   (C) If the court believes that by permitting the general public to be present at either of the hearings noted in § 6-202(A) or (B), the defendant may be denied a fair trial, and the defendant has not moved for closure, the court shall inquire of the defendant, on the record, whether the defendant desires to hold all or a part of such proceeding with the public present. If the defendant elects to hold such hearing with the public present, the court shall so proceed after noting the defendant's election on the record. If the defendant, however, elects to close all or a portion of such proceeding and so advises the court, it shall be as if the defendant has so moved and all of the provisions of these guidelines shall apply.