Proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 in the nature of prohibition, inter alia, to bar the respondent William K. Nelson, a Judge of the County Court, Rockland County, from closing any proceedings to the public and the press in the criminal action entitled People v Hemstreet (Rockland County index No. 7066-93).
Adjudged that the petition is denied and the proceeding is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.
"Because of its extraordinary nature, prohibition is available only where there is a clear legal right, and then only when a court—in cases where judicial authority is challenged —acts or threatens to act either without jurisdiction or in excess of its authorized powers” (Matter of Holtzman v Goldman, 71 NY2d 564, 569; see, Matter of Rush v Mordue, 68 NY2d 348, 352). The petitioner here has failed to demonstrate a clear legal right to the relief sought. Mangano, P. J., Thompson, Bracken, Rosenblatt and Goldstein, JJ., concur.