Manner for conducting proceedings; proceeding open to public; exception.
1. Each proceeding conducted pursuant to the provisions of this title:
(a) Is not criminal in nature.
(b) Must be heard separately from the trial of cases against adults.
(c) Must be heard without a jury.
(d) May be conducted in an informal manner.
(e) May be held at a facility for the detention of children or elsewhere at the discretion of the juvenile court.
(f) Does not require stenographic notes or any other transcript of the proceeding unless ordered by the juvenile court.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each proceeding conducted pursuant to the provisions of this title must be open to the public. If the juvenile court determines that all or part of the proceeding must be closed to the public because the closure is in the best interests of the child or the public:
(a) The public must be excluded; and
(b) The juvenile court may order that only those persons who have a direct interest in the case may be admitted. The juvenile court may determine that a victim or any member of the victim’s family is a person who has a direct interest in the case and may be admitted.
Last modified: February 25, 2006