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631.045 EXCLUDING SPECTATORS FROM THE COURTROOM.
At the trial of a complaint or indictment for a violation of sections 609.341 to 609.3451;
609.3453; 617.246, subdivision 2; or Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.109, when a minor
under 18 years of age is the person upon, with, or against whom the crime is alleged to have been
committed, the judge may exclude the public from the courtroom during the victim's testimony or
during all or part of the remainder of the trial upon a showing that closure is necessary to protect a
witness or ensure fairness in the trial. The judge shall give the prosecutor, defendant and members
of the public the opportunity to object to the closure before a closure order. The judge shall
specify the reasons for closure in an order closing all or part of the trial. Upon closure the judge
shall only admit persons who have a direct interest in the case.
History: 1982 c 558 s 4; 1985 c 265 art 11 s 1; 1986 c 351 s 22; 1998 c 367 art 6 s 14;
2005 c 136 art 4 s 10; 2007 c 13 art 3 s 37

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes