from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
PUBLICITY. The doing of a thing in the view of all persons who choose to be
present.
2. The law requires that courts should be open to the public, there can
therefore be no secret tribunal, except the grand jury (q.v.) and all
judgments are required to be given in public.
3. Publicity must be given to the acts of the legislature before they
can be in force, but in general their being recorded in a certain public
office is evidence of their publicity. Vide Promulgation; Publication.