North Dakota Century Code Title 27. Judicial Branch of Government § 27-20.3-13. Conduct of child in need of protection hearings

1. A hearing under this chapter must be conducted by the court without a jury, in an informal but orderly manner and separately from other proceedings not included in section 27-20.2-03 and in accordance with the Rules of North Dakota Juvenile Procedure.

2. If the hearing has not been held within the time limit, or any extension of the time limit, required by supreme court rule, the petition must be dismissed.

3. The state's attorney shall present the evidence in support of any allegations of the petition not admitted and otherwise conduct the proceedings on behalf of the state.

4. The proceedings must be recorded by stenographic notes or by electronic, mechanical, or other appropriate means.

5. Juvenile court hearings are closed to the public even if the purpose of the hearing is to declare a person in contempt of court. The general public must be excluded from other hearings under this chapter. In hearings from which the general public is excluded, only the parties, counsel of the parties, witnesses, victims, and any other persons the court finds have a proper interest in the proceedings may be admitted by the court. The court may temporarily exclude the child or other person from the hearing if, after being warned by the court that disruptive conduct will cause removal from the courtroom, the child or other person persists in conduct that justifies removal from the courtroom.