State-by-state guide:

Georgia

Ga. Code Ann. § 15-11-28(c) (1998): The general public has a right of access to juvenile proceedings in cases involving: allegations of a felony designated in § 15-11-37, child support, legitimation actions, and delinquency if a juvenile has been found previously to be delinquent. However, the court shall close any delinquency hearings involving allegations of sexual assault or any delinquency hearings at which any party expects to introduce evidence related to matters of deprivation. The court may open any dispositional hearing at its discretion. The general public shall be excluded from hearings involving delinquency, deprivation or unruliness, but persons the court finds have a proper interest in the case can attend.

Ga. Code. Ann. § 15-11-58 (1998): In general, juvenile court records can be inspected only pursuant to a court order. However, several exceptions exist, and the public can inspect records involving allegations of a felony designated in § 15-11-37, child support, legitimation actions, and delinquency if a juvenile has been found previously to be delinquent.

Ga. Code. Ann. § 15-11-37 (1998): For purposes of § 15-11-28(c) and § 15-11-58, designated felonies are kidnaping, arson, aggravated assault, armed robbery, attempted murder or kidnaping, carrying a weapon, carjacking, drug trafficking, racketeering, and committing an offense three times that would be a felony if committed by an adult.

Uniform Rules for the Juvenile Courts of Georgia, R. 26.1; R. 26.2 (1999): Any person seeking access to any juvenile court proceeding generally closed to public shall file a written motion for access. In any hearing open to public access by statute or court order, the media may make written notes and sketches. However, members of the media must get permission to use certain electronic or photographic equipment. The judge may require pooled coverage. All cameras should run without noise and may be assigned to a particular place in the courtroom. Pictures of the child shall not be taken. No interviews can be conducted in the courtroom except with the permission of the judge. Finally, reporters, photographers and technicians "should do everything possible to avoid attracting attention to themselves."

Presence of the media: The Court of Appeals held that because a father failed to object to the presence of the press during the hearing or at the time of the ruling, he failed to preserve the issue on appeal. Heath v. McGuire, 306 S.E.2d 741 (Ga. App. 1983).

Felony charges: Juvenile felony murder, armed robbery and theft proceedings must be open to the press and public because the public’s interest in disclosure outweighs the state’s or juvenile’s interest in closed proceedings. In re Ross, 16 Media L. Rep. 2087 (Ga. Juv. Ct. 1989).

Delinquency hearing: The state may create a procedural rule that delinquency proceedings are presumed closed to the public, but the public and press must be given an opportunity to show that the state’s or juvenile’s interest in closure does not override the public’s interest in an open hearing. Florida Publishing Co. v. Morgan, 342 S.E.2d 233 (Ga. 1984).

Access granted: A defendant’s juvenile court record is admissible as evidence during the sentencing phase of a capital trial. Smith v. Georgia, 510 S.E.2d 1 (Ga. 1998).