3-812.

(e) (1) The court shall conduct all hearings in an informal manner.

(2) In any proceeding in which a child is alleged to be in need of
supervision or assistance or to have committed a delinquent act that would be a
misdemeanor if committed by an adult, the court may exclude the general public from
a hearing, and admit only THE VICTIM AND those persons having a direct interest in
the proceeding and their representatives.

(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, in a case in
which a child is alleged to have committed a delinquent act that would be a felony if
committed by an adult, the court shall conduct in open court any hearing or other
proceeding at which the child has a right to appear.

(4) For good cause shown, the court may exclude the general public from
a hearing or other proceeding in a case in which a child is alleged to have committed
a delinquent act that would be a felony if committed by an adult and admit only the
victim and those persons having a direct interest in the proceeding and their
representatives.

(5) Except as provided in paragraph (6) of this subsection, the court shall
announce, in open court, adjudications and dispositions in cases where a child is
alleged to have committed a delinquent act which would be a felony if committed by
an adult.

(6) For good cause shown, the court may exclude the general public from
a proceeding at which an adjudication or disposition is announced and admit only the
victim and those persons having a direct interest in the proceeding and their
representatives.

3-817.

(a) The court may waive the exclusive jurisdiction conferred by § 3-804 OF
THIS SUBTITLE with respect to a petition alleging delinquency by:

(1) A child who is 15 years old or older; or

(2) A child who has not reached his 15th birthday, but who is charged
with committing an act which if committed by an adult, would be punishable by death
or life imprisonment.

(b) (1) The court may not waive its jurisdiction until after it has conducted a
waiver hearing, held prior to an adjudicatory hearing and after notice has been given
to all parties as prescribed by the Maryland Rules. The waiver hearing is solely to
determine whether the court should waive its jurisdiction.

(2) (C) (1) NOTICE OF THE WAIVER HEARING SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE A
VICTIM AS PROVIDED UNDER ARTICLE 27, § 770 OF THE CODE.

(3) A VICTIM SHALL HAVE A RIGHT TO BE PRESENT AT THE WAIVER
HEARING AND SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO ADDRESS THE COURT PRIOR TO THE
DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER TO WAIVE ITS JURISDICTION.