RULE 8.315. ARRAIGNMENTS AND PREHEARING
CONFERENCES

(a) Arraignment.

(1) Before the adjudicatory hearing, the court must
conduct a hearing to determine whether an admission, consent, or
denial to the petition must be entered, and whether the parties are
represented by counsel or are entitled to appointed counsel as
provided by law.
(2) If an admission or consent is entered and no denial
is entered by any other parent or legal custodian, the court must
enter a written order finding dependency based on the allegations of
the dependency petition by a preponderance of the evidence. The
court must schedule a disposition hearing to be conducted within
15 days. If a denial is entered, the court must set an adjudicatory
hearing within the period of time provided by law and appoint
counsel when required.

(3) If one parent enters an admission or consent and
the other parent who is present enters a denial to the allegations of
the dependency petition, the court must enter a written order
finding dependency based on the allegations of the dependency
petition that pertain to the parent who enters an admission or
consent by a preponderance of the evidence. The court must then
reserve ruling on whether the parent who entered the denial
contributed to the dependency status of the child under the
statutory definition of a dependent child until the parent enters an
admission or consent to the dependency petition, the court
conducts an adjudicatory hearing, or the issue is otherwise
resolved.

(4) If one parent enters an admission or consent and
the identity or location of the other parent is unknown, the court
must enter a written order finding dependency based on the
allegations of the dependency petition by a preponderance of the
evidence. The court must then reserve ruling on whether the parent
whose identity or location is unknown contributed to the
dependency status of the child under the statutory definition of a
dependent child until the parent enters an admission or consent to
the dependency petition, the court conducts an adjudicatory
hearing, or the court proceeds as provided by law regarding a
parent whose identity or location is unknown.

(5) If the court enters a written order finding
dependency, the court must schedule a disposition hearing to be
conducted within 15 days. If a denial is entered, the court must set
an adjudicatory hearing within the period of time provided by law
and appoint counsel when required.
(b) Withdrawal of Plea. The court may for good cause, at
any time before the beginning of a disposition hearing, permit an
admission of the allegations of the petition or a consent to
dependency to be withdrawn and, if an adjudication has been
entered, set aside the adjudication. In a subsequent adjudicatory
hearing the court must disregard an admission or consent that has
been withdrawn.

(c) Pretrial Status Conference. Before any adjudicatory
hearing, the court may set or the parties may request that a pretrial
status conference be held to determine:

(1) the order in which each party may present its case;

(2) which witnesses will testify in person and which will
testify via communication technology;

(3) how a remote witness’s identity will be confirmed;

(4) any stipulations entered into by the parties; and

(5) any other matters that may aid in the conduct of
the adjudicatory hearing.

(d) Status Hearing. Within 60 days of the filing of the
petition, a status hearing must be held with all parties present
unless an adjudicatory or disposition hearing has begun.
Subsequent status hearings must be held every 30 days unless an
adjudicatory or disposition hearing has begun.

Committee Notes
1991 Amendment. (d) This section requires a status hearing
every 30 days to ensure prompt resolution of the case while
preserving the rights of all parties.