Rule 114 Confidentiality of Proceedings

Cases involving dependent and neglect claims are automatically kept private. The public and press cannot attend these hearings. This is meant to protect children and families in situations where a child may have been abused, neglected, or left without proper care.

Cases involving delinquent behavior (things that would be crimes if committed by an adult) or unruly behavior (like skipping school or running away) are normally open to the public. Anyone can attend these hearings, just like in adult court. But the judge has the power to close all or part of a hearing if there's a good reason.

If someone asks the judge to close a hearing, that person has to prove it's necessary. The judge can't just close the courtroom because someone wants privacy. The person asking must show that keeping the hearing open would cause specific, serious harm that outweighs the public's right to watch court proceedings. Even then, the judge can only close the part of the hearing that actually needs to be private, not the whole thing if it's not necessary.

Before closing any part of a hearing, the judge must think about other options that might solve the problem without shutting out the public. If the judge does decide to close the hearing, they have to write down clear reasons explaining why. This ensures the judge doesn't make this decision lightly and gives everyone a clear record of why privacy was necessary in that specific case.