Criminal Code (Cap. 9), article 531

531. (1) The court shall hold its sittings with open doors. Nevertheless, the court may hold its sittings with closed doors in all cases involving children below the age of eighteen (18) or in c ases where it is of opinion that the proceedings, if conducted in pu blic, might be offensive to modesty, or might cause scandal; in any s uch case, the court shall previously make an order to that effect s tating the reasons for so doing. (2) Where the sittings are held with closed doors, it shall not be lawful to publish any report of the proceedings under the penal ties established for contempt of the authority of the court. Subsequent notice. Added by: XXIV .2014.62. *531A. In proceedings before a court of criminal justice, where the party charged or accused, hav ing been notified with the dat e of the first hearing in accordance wi th the provisions of this Cod e, has appeared for the said hearing, n o subsequent notice need be giv en of any date to which a case whic h has been set down for hearing as aforesaid or has started to be heard is put off and it shall be the responsibility o f the person charged or accused to verify such date: Provided that this provision shall also apply where the person charged or accused, notwithstanding not having been notified in accordance with the provisions of this Code, still appears for the hearing. Power of court to regulate conduct and despatch of business, etc. Substituted by: IV .1994.16.