In relation to law enforcement and the courts, the press serves to inform the public about crimes and how government institutions deal with them. The press also plays a crucial role in assuring that the rights of individuals guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment are protected. The issue of prejudice, caused by news coverage of crime and criminal proceedings, has been raised in many appeals by convicted persons. The appellate court has refused in virtually all cases to overturn convictions on grounds of pretrial or trial news coverage. Through an analysis of historical and legal precedent, the summary and five chapters of this book describe the way in which the appellate courts have interpreted these cases. Chapter 1 presents the history of the free press of the United States. Chapter 2 discusses the Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Amendment and the evolution of the rights of the free press. The free press and a free trial as guaranteed in the Constitution's Sixth Amendment are outlined in chapter 3. Chapter 4 examines the closing of courtrooms in an effort to ensure the right to an impartial jury, while television in the courtroom is the subject of chapter 5. (SM)