North Dakota v. Frederick
Annotate this CaseDemoris Frederick was convicted by jury of aggravated assault. Frederick argued the district court created a structural error by denying his constitutional right to a public trial, and created a reversible error by conducting voir dire off the record, making a transcript of the jury selection unavailable. Because Frederick did not demonstrate any portion of trial was held privately, or that the public was asked to leave the courtroom or was not allowed in, the North Dakota Supreme Court concluded his right to a public trial was not violated. Because Frederick also had not demonstrated an error affecting his substantial rights when the district court failed to create an adequate record during a bench conference in open court, the Court concluded he failed to demonstrate obvious error. The Court therefore affirmed the criminal judgment.
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