DOVER, Del. (AP) - A task force studying the feasibility of increasing public access to Family Court proceedings in Delaware is continuing its work as a February deadline for submitting a report approaches.
Members of the task force were scheduled to meet in Dover on Tuesday, and again in early December.
The Family Court has jurisdiction over all domestic relations, juvenile delinquency and intra-family misdemeanors.
Delaware's constitution says all courts shall be open, but many Family Court proceedings nevertheless take place behind closed doors because of laws passed by the General Assembly.
Those closed proceedings include hearings involving adoption, termination of parental rights, custody rights and visitation, guardianship, paternity and divorce.
The resolution establishing the task force says the integrity of the Family Court process could be enhanced by opening court proceedings.
