(a) Recusal, Withdrawal of Member or Panelist
If at any time a member of the National Adjudicatory Council, including a member of the Review Subcommittee, a Panelist of a Subcommittee or an Extended Proceeding Committee, or a Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council determines that the member, the Panelist, or the Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council has a conflict of interest or bias or circumstances otherwise exist where the fairness of the member, the Panelist, or the Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council might reasonably be questioned, the member, the Panelist, or the Counsel to National Adjudicatory Council shall notify the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council, and the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall issue and serve on the Parties a notice stating that the member, the Panelist, or the Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council has withdrawn from the matter. In the event that a Panelist withdraws, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to continue service after a hearing has been convened, the Chair or Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint a replacement Panelist. In the event that a member of the Review Subcommittee withdraws, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to continue service after assignment, the Chair or Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint another member of the National Adjudicatory Council to serve on the Review Subcommittee for the limited purpose of considering the issues raised in the disciplinary proceeding in which the withdrawal action was taken. The replacement member of the Review Subcommittee must have the same classification (Industry or Non-Industry) as the member who withdrew. In the event that a Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council withdraws, is incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to continue service after assignment, the General Counsel shall assign a replacement Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council.
(b) Motion for Disqualification
A Party may move for the disqualification of a member of the National Adjudicatory Council, the Review Subcommittee, a Panelist of a Subcommittee or an Extended Proceeding Committee, or a Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council. All such motions shall be based upon a reasonable, good faith belief that a conflict of interest or bias exists or circumstances otherwise exist where the fairness of the member, the Panelist, or the Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council might reasonably be questioned, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit setting forth in detail the facts alleged to constitute grounds for disqualification, and the dates on which the Party learned of those facts. Such motions shall be filed not later than 15 days after the later of:
(1) when the Party learned of the facts believed to constitute the disqualification; or
(2) when the Party was notified of the composition of the Subcommittee or, if applicable, the Extended Proceeding Committee or the assignment to the disciplinary proceeding of the Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council.
(c) Disposition of Disqualification Motions: Challenges to Single Member of National Adjudicatory Council or Review Subcommittee, Single Panelist of Subcommittee or Extended Hearing Committee, or Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council
Motions for disqualification of a member of the National Adjudicatory Council, including a member of the Review Subcommittee, a Panelist of a Subcommittee or an Extended Proceeding Committee, or a Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council shall be decided by the Chair or Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council, who shall promptly determine whether disqualification is required and issue a written ruling on the motion. If a member of the Review Subcommittee is disqualified, the Chair or Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint another member of the National Adjudicatory Council to serve on the Review Subcommittee for the limited purpose of considering the issues raised in the disciplinary proceeding in which the motion was made. The replacement member of the Review Subcommittee must have the same classification (Industry or Non-Industry) as the member being replaced. If a Panelist is disqualified, the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint a replacement Panelist. If a Counsel is disqualified, the General Counsel shall assign a replacement Counsel to the National Adjudicatory Council.
(d) Disposition of Disqualification Motions: Challenges to Multiple Members or Panelists
(1) National Adjudicatory Council
If a Party files a motion to disqualify more than one member of the National Adjudicatory Council, the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall promptly determine whether disqualification is required, and shall issue a written ruling on the matter. In the event of such disqualification, the remaining members of the National Adjudicatory Council shall consider the review or appeal of the disciplinary matter.
(2) Review Subcommittee
If a Party files a motion to disqualify more than one member of the Review Subcommittee, the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall promptly determine whether disqualification is required, and shall issue a written ruling on the matter. If members of the Review Subcommittee are disqualified, the Chair or Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint other members of the National Adjudicatory Council to serve on the Review Subcommittee for the limited purpose of considering the issues raised in the disciplinary proceeding in which the motion was made. The replacement members of the Review Subcommittee must have the same classification (Industry or Non-Industry) as the members being replaced.
(3) Subcommittee; Extended Proceeding Committee
If a Party files a motion to disqualify more than one Panelist of a Subcommittee or an Extended Proceeding Committee, the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall promptly determine whether disqualification is required, and shall issue a written ruling on the motion. If multiple Panelists are disqualified, the Chair or the Vice Chair of the National Adjudicatory Council shall appoint replacement Panelists.
