Section R20-5-818. Duties and Powers of Hearing Officers

It shall be the duty of the hearing officer to conduct a fair and impartial hearing, to assure that the facts are fully elicited, to adju- dicate all issues and avoid delay. The hearing officer shall have authority with respect to cases assigned to him, between the time he is designated and the time he issued his decision, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission, to:

1.        Administer oaths and affirmations;

2.        Rule upon admissibility of exhibits;

3.        Rule upon applications for depositions;

4.        Regulate the course of the hearing and, if appropriate or necessary, exclude persons or counsel from the hearing for contemptuous conduct and strike all related testimony of witnesses refusing to answer any proper questions;

5.        Call and examine witnesses;

6.        Request the parties at any time during the hearing to state their respective positions concerning any issue in the case or theory in support thereof;

7.        Adjourn the hearing as the needs of justice and good administration require;

8.        Issue appropriate orders for protection of trade secrets;

9.        Take any other action necessary under the foregoing and authorized by the rules and regulations of the Commis- sion.

Historical Note

Adopted effective August 27, 1975 (Supp. 75-1). R20-5-

818  recodified from R4-13-818 (Supp. 95-1).