Tex. Fam. Code Section 54.08
Public Access to Court Hearings


(a)

Except as provided by this section, the court shall open hearings under this title to the public unless the court, for good cause shown, determines that the public should be excluded.

(b)

The court may not prohibit a person who is a victim of the conduct of a child, or the person’s family, from personally attending a hearing under this title relating to the conduct by the child unless the victim or member of the victim’s family is to testify in the hearing or any subsequent hearing relating to the conduct and the court determines that the victim’s or family member’s testimony would be materially affected if the victim or member of the victim’s family hears other testimony at trial.

(c)

If a child is under the age of 14 at the time of the hearing, the court shall close the hearing to the public unless the court finds that the interests of the child or the interests of the public would be better served by opening the hearing to the public.

(d)

In this section, “family” has the meaning assigned by Section 71.003 (Family).
Acts 1973, 63rd Leg., p. 1460, ch. 544, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1973. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 385, Sec. 11, eff. Sept. 1, 1987; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 262, Sec. 45, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1086, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Source: Section 54.08 — Public Access to Court Hearings, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/FA/htm/FA.­54.­htm#54.­08 (accessed Mar. 23, 2024).

54.01
Detention Hearing
54.02
Waiver of Jurisdiction and Discretionary Transfer to Criminal Court
54.03
Adjudication Hearing
54.04
Disposition Hearing
54.05
Hearing to Modify Disposition
54.07
Enforcement of Order
54.08
Public Access to Court Hearings
54.09
Recording of Proceedings
54.10
Hearings Before Referee
54.011
Detention Hearings for Status Offenders and Nonoffenders
54.11
Release or Transfer Hearing
54.012
Remote Conduct of Detention Hearing
54.021
Services Provided to Child in Detention Facility Pending Criminal Prosecution
54.031
Hearsay Statement of Certain Abuse Victims
54.032
Deferral of Adjudication and Dismissal of Certain Cases on Completion of Teen Court Program
54.033
Sexually Transmitted Disease, Aids, and Hiv Testing
54.034
Limited Right to Appeal: Warning
54.041
Orders Affecting Parents and Others
54.042
License Suspension
54.043
Monitoring School Attendance
54.044
Community Service
54.045
Admission of Unadjudicated Conduct
54.046
Conditions of Probation for Damaging Property with Graffiti
54.047
Alcohol or Drug Related Offense
54.048
Restitution
54.049
Conditions of Probation for Desecrating a Cemetery or Abusing a Corpse
54.051
Transfer of Determinate Sentence Probation to Appropriate District Court
54.052
Credit for Time Spent in Detention Facility for Child with Determinate Sentence
54.0325
Deferral of Adjudication and Dismissal of Certain Cases on Completion of Teen Dating Violence Court Program
54.0326
Deferral of Adjudication and Dismissal of Certain Cases on Completion of Trafficked Persons Program
54.0401
Community-based Programs
54.0404
Electronic Transmission of Certain Visual Material Depicting Minor: Educational Programs
54.0405
Child Placed on Probation for Conduct Constituting Sexual Offense
54.0406
Child Placed on Probation for Conduct Involving a Handgun
54.0407
Cruelty to Animals: Counseling Required
54.0408
Referral of Child Exiting Probation to Mental Health Authority or Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority
54.0409
Dna Sample Required on Certain Felony Adjudications
54.0481
Restitution for Damaging Property with Graffiti
54.0482
Treatment of Restitution Payments
54.0491
Gang-related Conduct
54.04012
Trafficked Persons Program
54.04013
Special Commitment to Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Accessed:
Mar. 23, 2024

§ 54.08’s source at texas​.gov