Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

Because the full verb is stattfinden, which is a separable verb in German.

• Infinitive: stattfinden
• In a normal main clause: findet goes to the usual verb position, and statt moves to the end.

So:

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

This is very common with separable verbs in German, for example:

• anfangen → Der Film fängt um acht an.
• einkaufen → Ich kaufe morgen ein.

In a subordinate clause or with an infinitive, the verb stays together:

• ..., weil die Verhandlung öffentlich stattfindet.
• Die Verhandlung soll öffentlich stattfinden.

In this sentence, stattfinden means to take place, to happen, or to be held.

Even though it contains finden, you should treat stattfinden as a separate whole verb with its own meaning. It does not mean to find in the usual English sense.

So:

• finden = to find
• stattfinden = to take place / to happen

This is a good example of why separable verbs should usually be learned as complete vocabulary items.

Because öffentlich is being used adverbially here, not as an adjective directly in front of a noun.

In this sentence:

• Die Verhandlung = the hearing/trial/proceeding
• findet ... statt = takes place
• öffentlich = publicly / in public / open to the public

Since öffentlich is describing how the proceeding takes place, it does not take adjective endings.

Compare:

• die öffentliche Verhandlung = the public hearing
  Here öffentliche comes before the noun, so it needs an adjective ending.

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.
  Here öffentlich describes the manner of the action, so there is no ending.

Yes, absolutely. That is a very natural sentence too.

The difference is small:

• Die Verhandlung ist öffentlich.
  = The hearing/trial is public / open to the public.
  This describes a property of the proceeding.

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.
  = The hearing/trial takes place publicly / is held in public.
  This focuses a bit more on the event itself and how it is conducted.

In many contexts, both would work.

Because in a German main clause, the conjugated part of a separable verb goes in the usual verb position, and the prefix goes to the end.

So the structure is:

• Die Verhandlung = subject
• findet = conjugated verb
• öffentlich = adverb
• statt = separable prefix at the end

This is normal German word order for separable verbs.

It is nominative, because it is the subject of the sentence.

You can identify it by asking: What takes place?

Answer: die Verhandlung

So:

• die Verhandlung = subject, nominative
• findet statt = verb
• öffentlich = adverb

Verhandlung can have more than one meaning depending on context. Common possibilities include:

• hearing
• trial
• court proceeding
• negotiation

In legal contexts, it often means a hearing or court proceeding. In other contexts, it can mean negotiation.

So learners often need to rely on context to know which English word fits best.

Because öffentlich is not a noun here. It is an adjective used adverbially.

German does not add an article before adverbs in this kind of structure. So you simply say:

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.

Not:

• Die Verhandlung findet ein öffentlich statt. ❌

If öffentlich were used before a noun, then it would need the appropriate article and adjective ending:

• eine öffentliche Verhandlung

Yes, findet is present tense, and yes, German often uses the present tense for future or scheduled events.

So a sentence like this can mean:

• the hearing is taking place now, or
• the hearing will take place, depending on context

German uses the present tense very often where English might prefer will or is going to.

For example:

• Die Verhandlung findet morgen öffentlich statt.
  = The hearing will take place in public tomorrow.

Yes, German allows some flexibility, but the most natural position here is the one in the sentence.

You may also see:

• Die Verhandlung findet statt.
• Die Verhandlung findet morgen öffentlich statt.
• Öffentlich findet die Verhandlung statt.

That last one is possible, but it is marked and sounds more stylistic or contrastive. For a learner, Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt is the safest neutral order.

Yes, but it means something slightly different in structure.

• Die öffentliche Verhandlung findet statt.
  = The public hearing takes place.

Here öffentliche directly modifies Verhandlung, so it becomes part of the noun phrase.

• Die Verhandlung findet öffentlich statt.
  = The hearing takes place publicly / is held in public.

In practice, the overall meaning may be very similar, but the grammar is different:

• öffentliche = adjective before a noun, so it takes an ending
• öffentlich = adverbial use, so no ending

Yes. stattfinden is a very common and neutral verb for events, meetings, hearings, trials, concerts, classes, and many other things.

Examples:

• Das Konzert findet morgen statt.
• Die Sitzung findet um zehn Uhr statt.
• Die Verhandlung findet im Gerichtssaal statt.

So it is a very useful verb to learn early.