Open the court, Judge Fox Open the court, Judge Fox I, like the Democrat-Gazette, and many others are stunned by Circuit Judge Tim Fox’s decision to prevent public attendance at a court hearing Friday on who’s qualified or not to apply for a casino permit in Pope County. I can only guess this is an in-your-face gesture by Fox toward County Judge Barry Hyde, who’s continued to impose health guidelines on county buildings, including the courthouse. But as Hyde has said, he doesn’t intend to prevent attendance at court hearings (certainly not virtual hearings, which Fox refuses to hold).