(1) The general public shall be admitted to any hearing in a youth court proceeding, including, but not limited to, any adjudicatory hearing or any dispositional hearing except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(2) (a) In all welfare matters, the court may close a youth court hearing only after a finding on the record stating the reason or reasons for closing all or part of a hearing in a youth court proceeding. The finding on the record closing a hearing in a youth court proceeding shall state that the decision to close all or part of the hearing is because:(i) The proceeding involves an allegation of an act which, if done by an adult, would constitute a sexual offense;(ii) It is in the best interests of the child; or(iii) To prevent disclosure of personal information otherwise protected by federal or state law.(b) In making such a determination, the court shall consider such factors as:(i) The age of the child alleged or adjudicated;(ii) The nature of the allegations;(iii) The effect that an open court proceeding will have on the court’s ability to reunite and rehabilitate the family unit; and(iv) Whether the closure is necessary to protect the privacy of a child, of a parent or foster parent or other caretaker of a child, or of a victim of domestic violence.(c) In all delinquency matters, the youth court, in its discretion, may choose to close the youth court hearing without any finding on the record.
(a) In all welfare matters, the court may close a youth court hearing only after a finding on the record stating the reason or reasons for closing all or part of a hearing in a youth court proceeding. The finding on the record closing a hearing in a youth court proceeding shall state that the decision to close all or part of the hearing is because:(i) The proceeding involves an allegation of an act which, if done by an adult, would constitute a sexual offense;(ii) It is in the best interests of the child; or(iii) To prevent disclosure of personal information otherwise protected by federal or state law.
(i) The proceeding involves an allegation of an act which, if done by an adult, would constitute a sexual offense;
(ii) It is in the best interests of the child; or
(iii) To prevent disclosure of personal information otherwise protected by federal or state law.
(b) In making such a determination, the court shall consider such factors as:(i) The age of the child alleged or adjudicated;(ii) The nature of the allegations;(iii) The effect that an open court proceeding will have on the court’s ability to reunite and rehabilitate the family unit; and(iv) Whether the closure is necessary to protect the privacy of a child, of a parent or foster parent or other caretaker of a child, or of a victim of domestic violence.
(i) The age of the child alleged or adjudicated;
(ii) The nature of the allegations;
(iii) The effect that an open court proceeding will have on the court’s ability to reunite and rehabilitate the family unit; and
(iv) Whether the closure is necessary to protect the privacy of a child, of a parent or foster parent or other caretaker of a child, or of a victim of domestic violence.
(c) In all delinquency matters, the youth court, in its discretion, may choose to close the youth court hearing without any finding on the record.
(3) The court may close a hearing under subsection (2) of this section or exclude a person from a hearing under subsection (5) of this section in any proceeding on its own motion, by motion of a party to the proceeding, or by motion of the child who is the subject of the proceeding or the child’s attorney or guardian ad litem.
(4) The parties, their counsel, witnesses, persons accompanying a party for his or her assistance, the victim, and any other persons as the court finds have a proper interest in the proceeding or in the work of the court shall be admitted by the court to hearings from which the public is excluded. When the conduct alleged in the proceeding could give rise to a criminal prosecution or delinquent act adjudication, attorneys for the prosecution and the defense shall be admitted.
(5) The court may refuse to admit a person to a hearing in any youth court proceeding upon making a finding upon the record that the person’s presence at the hearing would:(a) Be detrimental to the best interests of the child who is a party to the proceeding;(b) Impair the fact-finding process; or(c) Be otherwise contrary to the interest of justice.
(a) Be detrimental to the best interests of the child who is a party to the proceeding;
(b) Impair the fact-finding process; or
(c) Be otherwise contrary to the interest of justice.
(6) The use of electronic recording, transmission, videotaping, or motion picture or still photography of any judicial proceeding shall be prohibited except for written order of the court for good cause.
(7) The media shall not release identifying or recorded information concerning any child, family member, foster parent or other caretaker of a child involved in public or closed hearings except for written order of the court for good cause.