Rule 8.645 Orders

After every hearing in a juvenile case, the judge must put the decision in writing. This written order cannot just state what the judge decided; it also has to explain the facts the judge considered and the legal reasons behind the decision.

The written order may not be ready the same day as the hearing, but the court must complete it in a reasonable amount of time. Having everything in writing creates a clear record of what happened and why the judge ruled the way they did.