DOJ-OGR-00019195.jpg

opportunity to access this proceeding in real time. See Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, 448 U.S. 555, 593-97 (1980) (Brennan, J., concurring) (discussing the functions of public access to court proceedings, including ensuring that procedural rights are respected and that justice is afforded equally, maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice, promoting accurate fact-finding, and enabling the public to act as a check on judicial power); see also Bucci, 662 F.3d at 22 (discussing benefits of openness in criminal proceedings). Under the extraordinary circumstances presented by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the court finds this partial closure is necessary. III. Findings in Support of Necessity for this Partial Closure A. First, the court finds that protecting the health and safety of the public and the parties to this proceeding from the spread of COVID-19 is a substantial interest that would be jeopardized and prejudiced if the court did not impose this partial closure. Since the first announced case in New Hampshire on March 2, 2020, the state has reported 5,802 confirmed cases of COVID-19.? So far, 373 deaths have been attributed to the disease in this 3 COVID-19, N.H. Dep’t of Health and Human Servs., https://www.nh.gov/covidl9/ (last visited 12:00 p.m. July 2, 2020); Explore the Data: Tracking COVID-19 in New Hampshire, N.H. Pub. Radio, https://www.nhpr.org/post/updated-tracking- covid-19-cases-and-testing-new-hampshire#stream/0O (last visited 12:00 p.m. July 2, 2020). DOJ-OGR-00019195