Rule 6-116. Courtroom closure.

A. Courtroom proceedings open. All courtroom proceedings shall be open to the public unless the courtroom is closed by an order of the court entered under this rule. An agreement of the parties to close the courtroom shall not constitute a sufficient basis for the issuance of an order for courtroom closure. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the following persons may be present during a closed courtroom proceeding: the parties and their attorneys, witnesses while testifying, court employees and security personnel, and victims and victim’s representatives as defined in the Victims of Crime Act, Section 31-26-3 NMSA 1978. This rule does not affect the court’s inherent authority to impose reasonable time, place, and manner limitations on public access to the courtroom, including reasonable limitations on broadcasting, televising, photographing, and recording of court proceedings as set forth in Rule 23-107 NMRA. B. Motion for courtroom closure. A motion for courtroom closure must advance an interest that overrides the public’s interest in attending the proceeding. (1) Motion of the court. If the court determines on the court’s own motion that a courtroom proceeding should be closed, the court shall file and serve on each party an order to show cause why the proceeding should not be closed. (2) Motion of a party, or other interested person or entity. A party, or any person or entity with a sufficient interest, may move to exclude the public from any portion of a courtroom proceeding. A motion for courtroom closure shall be filed and served at least twenty (20) days prior to the commencement of the courtroom proceeding, unless upon good cause shown the court waives the time requirement. (3) Response. A party opposing a motion for courtroom closure or responding to an order to show cause may file a written response within fifteen (15) days after service of the motion or order to show cause, unless a different time period is ordered by the court. A reply is not permitted without leave of the court, which may be granted upon a showing of good cause. (4) Response by non-party. Any member of the public may file a written response to a motion for courtroom closure at any time before the hearing required under Paragraph C of this rule. (5) Continuance. In the court’s discretion or at the request of the parties, the court may continue a courtroom proceeding to allow time to file written responses. C. Public hearing. Unless the court denies a motion for courtroom closure on the pleadings, the court shall hold a public hearing on any proposed courtroom closure considered under Subparagraph (B)(1) or (B)(2) of this rule. (1) Notice of hearing to the public. Media organizations, persons, and entities that have requested to receive notice of proposed courtroom closures shall be given timely notice of the date, time, and place of any hearing under this paragraph. Any member of the public shall be permitted a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the hearing. (2) In camera review. Although the court is required to hold a public hearing on a motion for courtroom closure, this rule does not preclude the court from holding part of a hearing in camera for the limited purpose of reviewing sensitive or confidential information relevant to the motion. Any evidence tendered to the court for an in camera review that is not ordered to be disclosed shall be returned to the party. D. Order for courtroom closure. An order for courtroom closure shall be in writing, shall articulate the overriding interest being protected, and shall specify the court’s findings underlying the order. The court may order the exclusion of the public from all or part of a courtroom proceeding only if (1) the court concludes that such order is necessary to preserve an overriding interest that is likely to be prejudiced if the courtroom is not closed; (2) the order for courtroom closure is narrowly tailored to protect the overriding interest; and (3) the court has considered reasonable alternatives to courtroom closure.