Public trial activities, citizens can attend. When the attendance seats cannot meet the needs, the people's court may issue the attendance seats in the order of application or by drawing lots or shaking numbers, but priority shall be given to the close relatives of the parties or other interested parties to attend the case. According to the law, family members can't meet the criminal suspect before the effective judgment is made in criminal cases. In the investigation stage, the prosecution stage and the trial stage, only the defense lawyer can meet the criminal suspect or defendant in the detention center with the lawyer's license, power of attorney and the special letter of introduction from the law firm.
Article 188 of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) People's Court hears cases of first instance in public. However, cases involving state secrets or personal privacy shall not be heard in public; Cases involving commercial secrets may be heard in private upon the application of the parties. For cases that are not heard in public, the reasons for not hearing in public shall be announced in court.
Article 34 A criminal suspect has the right to entrust a defender from the day when he is interrogated for the first time by the investigation organ or compulsory measures are taken. During the investigation, only lawyers can be entrusted as defenders. The defendant has the right to entrust a defender at any time. When interrogating a criminal suspect for the first time or taking compulsory measures against him, the investigation organ shall inform him that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's procuratorate shall, within three days from the date of receiving the case materials transferred for examination and prosecution, inform the criminal suspect that he has the right to entrust a defender. The people's court shall, within three days from the date of accepting the case, inform the defendant of the right to entrust a defender. If a criminal suspect or defendant requests to entrust a defender while in custody, the people's court, the people's procuratorate and the public security organ shall promptly convey it. If a criminal suspect or defendant is in custody, his guardian or near relative may also entrust a defender. After accepting the entrustment of a criminal suspect or defendant, the defender shall promptly inform the case-handling organ.