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MA H1598
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/27/2025
Primary Sponsor
Antonio Cabral
Click for details
AI Summary
- Establishes a presumption that clerk magistrate hearings and associated records are open to the public
- Allows closure only if the court makes a written finding that the defendant's privacy interest outweighs public access rights, with good cause shown
- Requires any closure finding to be made after a hearing on the record, where interested non-parties may file a notice of appearance to participate
- Mandates that closure findings state specific reasons and be narrowly tailored to those reasons
- Requires all clerk magistrate hearings to be stenographically recorded or recorded and transcribed
Legislative Description
Relative to transparency in clerk magistrate hearings
Last Action
Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
11/4/2025
Committee Referrals
Judiciary2/27/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available