(a) Consolidation Initiated by Chief Hearing Officer
The Chief Hearing Officer may order the consolidation of two or more disciplinary proceedings, upon his or her own motion, under circumstances where such consolidation would further the efficiency of the disciplinary process, and where the subject complaints involve common questions of law or fact, or one or more of the same Respondents. In determining whether to order the consolidation of such disciplinary proceedings, the Chief Hearing Officer shall consider:
(1) whether the same or similar evidence reasonably would be expected to be offered at each of the hearings;
(2) whether the proposed consolidation would conserve the time and resources of the Parties; and
(3) whether any unfair prejudice would be suffered by one or more Parties as a result of the consolidation.
If the Chief Hearing Officer proposes to consolidate two or more disciplinary proceedings, the Chief Hearing Officer shall serve upon the Parties notice of the proposed consolidation of disciplinary proceedings, together with a copy of each relevant complaint and any answer that has been filed thereto, pursuant to
Rule 9132. The Parties shall have 14 days after service to file a response, stating any arguments in favor of or opposition to consolidation.
(b) Consolidation Initiated by a Party
A Party may file a motion to consolidate two or more disciplinary proceedings if such consolidation would further the efficiency of the disciplinary process, if the subject complaints involve common questions of law or fact or one or more of the same Respondents, or if one or more of the factors favoring consolidation set forth in paragraph (a) appear to be present. If a Party moves to consolidate two or more disciplinary proceedings, the Party shall file such motion, together with a copy of each relevant complaint and any answer thereto that has been filed, with the Office of Hearing Officers, and, pursuant to
Rule 9133, shall serve the same upon the Parties in each of the cases proposed to be consolidated. The Parties shall have 14 days after service to file a response, stating any arguments in favor of or opposition to consolidation, and shall serve the response upon the Parties in each of the cases proposed to be consolidated. The Chief Hearing Officer shall issue an order approving or denying the request for consolidation.
(c) Impact on Hearing Panel or Extended Hearing Panel
If the Chief Hearing Officer issues an order to consolidate two or more disciplinary proceedings for which Hearing Panels or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panels, have been appointed, the Chief Hearing Officer's order shall specify which Hearing Panel or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panel, shall preside over the consolidated disciplinary proceeding, or shall appoint a new Hearing Panel or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panel, to preside, based on the criteria set forth in Rules
9231 and
9232.
(d) Severance Initiated by Chief Hearing Officer
The Chief Hearing Officer may order the severance of a disciplinary proceeding into two or more disciplinary proceedings, upon his or her own motion. In determining whether to order the severance of such disciplinary proceedings, the Chief Hearing Officer shall consider:
(1) whether the same or similar evidence reasonably would be expected to be offered at each of the possible hearings;
(2) whether the severance would conserve the time and resources of the Parties; and
(3) whether any unfair prejudice would be suffered by one or more Parties if the severance is (not) ordered.
If the Chief Hearing Officer proposes to sever a disciplinary proceeding, the Chief Hearing Officer shall serve upon the Parties notice of the proposed severance of disciplinary proceedings pursuant to
Rule 9132. The Parties shall have 14 days after service to file a response, stating any arguments in favor of or opposition to severance.
(e) Severance Initiated by a Party
A Party may file a motion to sever a disciplinary proceeding if one or more of the factors favoring severance set forth in paragraph (d) appear to be present. If a Party moves to sever a disciplinary proceeding, the Party shall file such motion with the Office of Hearing Officers, and, pursuant to
Rule 9133, shall serve the same upon each of the parties to the action proposed to be severed. The Parties shall have 14 days after service to file a response, stating any arguments in favor of or opposition to severance, and shall serve the response upon the Parties in the case proposed to be severed. The Chief Hearing Officer shall issue an order approving or denying the request for severance.
(f) Impact on Hearing Panel or Extended Hearing Panel of Severance
If the Chief Hearing Officer issues an order to sever a disciplinary proceeding for which a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panel, has been appointed, the Chief Hearing Officer's order shall specify whether the same Hearing Panel or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panel, shall preside over the severed disciplinary proceedings, or shall appoint a new Hearing Panel(s) or, if applicable, Extended Hearing Panel(s), to preside over any or all of the severed proceedings, based on the criteria set forth in Rules
9231 and
9232.
