(a) Requirement to Furnish Information
Prior to a hearing before a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, the Hearing Officer, in the exercise of his or her discretion, may order a Party to furnish to all other Parties and the Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, such information as deemed appropriate, including any or all of the following
(a) Purposes
The purposes of a pre-hearing conference include, but are not limited to:
(1) expediting the disposition of the proceeding;
(2) establishing procedures to manage the proceeding efficiently; and
(3) improving the quality of the hearing through more thorough preparation.
(b) Procedure
On his or her own motion or at the request of a Party, the Hearing Officer
(a) Hearing Officer Authority
The Hearing Officer shall be selected by the Chief Hearing Officer and shall have authority to do all things necessary and appropriate to discharge his or her duties. In addition to the powers exercised by all members of the Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, the powers of the Hearing Officer include, but are not limited to:
(1) holding
(a) Recusal, Withdrawal of Panelist
If at any time a Panelist of a Hearing Panel or an Extended Hearing Panel determines that he or she has a conflict of interest or bias or circumstances otherwise exist where his or her fairness might reasonably be questioned, the Panelist shall notify the Hearing Officer and the Hearing Officer shall issue and serve on the Parties a notice stating that
(a) Recusal, Withdrawal of Hearing Officer
If at any time a Hearing Officer determines that he or she has a conflict of interest or bias or circumstances otherwise exist where his or her fairness might reasonably be questioned, the Hearing Officer shall notify the Chief Hearing Officer and the Chief Hearing Officer shall issue and serve on the Parties a notice stating that the Hearing
(a) Chief Hearing Officer Selection Alternatives
Following a determination of whether a Hearing Panel or an Extended Hearing Panel should be appointed, the Chief Hearing Officer shall determine:
(1) which Regional Committee shall be the Primary Regional Committee from which Panelists may be selected; and
(2) whether one of the Panelists may be selected from the Market Regulation
(a) Appointment
The Chief Hearing Officer shall appoint a Hearing Panel or an Extended Hearing Panel to conduct the disciplinary proceeding and issue a decision.
(b) Hearing Panel
The Hearing Panel shall be composed of a Hearing Officer and two Panelists, except as provided in paragraph (e) and in Rule 9234 (a), (c), (d), or (e). The Hearing Officer shall serve as the chair of the Hearing
(a) Availability
At any time prior to the issuance of the decision of the Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, the Hearing Officer may, for good cause shown, extend or shorten any time limits prescribed by the Code for the filing of any papers and may, consistent with paragraph (b), postpone or adjourn any hearing.
(b) Limitations on Postponements, Adjournments
