[§587A-25]  Conduct of hearing in child protective proceedings.  (a)  The court shall hear child protective proceedings without a jury at a hearing separate from those for adults.

     (b)  The general public shall be excluded from child protective proceedings.  Only parties found by the court to have a direct interest in the case shall be admitted to the hearing.

     (c)  The court has discretion to exclude the child from the hearing at any time.

     (d)  If a party is without counsel or a guardian ad litem, the court shall inform the party of the right to be represented by counsel and the right to appeal. [L 2010, c 135, pt of §1]