In Re Ashley E.

This case arises out of a permanency planning hearing held on October 1, 2003, in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as a juvenile court. We are asked to determine whether permanency planning hearings under Maryland Code (1973, 2002 Repl.Vol.), Section 3-823 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article are a form of disposition hearing under Maryland Rule 11-115, in which the application of the rules of evidence are discretionary and informal, or whether the rules of evidence must be applied during permanency planning hearings. Also we are asked to address whether employees of…