Rhodes' attorney asked Judge Julie Kaelin to bar the public and media from access to the hearing, saying mention of his medical issues should be private and the hearing would also include discussions of his past issues his many attorneys, which would violate attorney-client privilege.

The high-profile case has been pending since 2016 and was scheduled for trial in January 2022 before Rhodes’ defense asked for a competency evaluation, claiming Rhodes had an "intellectual disability" that would prohibit prosecutors from seeking the death penalty.

The attorney says the hearing should be closed to the public to protect Madden's medical privacy and ensure jurors aren’t swayed by media coverage.