Section 342.1. The fact-finding hearing; order of procedure  


Latest version.
  • The order of
      the fact-finding hearing shall be as follows:
        1. The court shall permit the parties to deliver opening addresses. If
      both parties deliver opening addresses, the presentment agency's address
      shall be delivered first.
        2. The presentment agency  must  offer  evidence  in  support  of  the
      petition.
        3. The respondent may offer evidence in his defense.
        4.  The  presentment  agency  may  offer  evidence  in rebuttal of the
      respondent's evidence, and the respondent may  then  offer  evidence  in
      rebuttal  of  the  presentment  agency's  evidence. The court may in its
      discretion permit the parties to offer further rebuttal  or  surrebuttal
      evidence  in  this  pattern.  In  the interest of justice, the court may
      permit either party  to  offer  evidence  upon  rebuttal  which  is  not
      technically  of  a  rebuttal  nature  but  more  properly  a part of the
      offering party's original case.
        5. At the conclusion of the evidence, the respondent  shall  have  the
      right to deliver a summation.
        6.  The  presentment  agency  shall  then  have the right to deliver a
      summation.
        7. The court must then consider the case and enter a finding.