Except by agreement of the parties, or in an expedited proceeding under § 2200.103, when a hearing is first set, the Judge shall give the parties and intervenors notice of the time, place, and nature of the hearing at least 30 days in advance of the hearing. If a hearing is being rescheduled, or if exigent circumstances are present, at least 10 days' notice shall be given. The Judge will designate a place and time of hearing that involves as little inconvenience and expense to the parties as is practicable.

(a) A case may be fully stipulated by the parties and submitted to the Commission or the Judge for a decision at any time. The stipulation of facts shall be in writing and signed by the parties or their representatives. The submission of a case under this rule does not alter the burden of proof, the requirements otherwise applicable with respect to adducing proof, or the effect of failure of proof.

(b) Motions for summary judgment are governed by § 2200.40(j).

(a) Motion to postpone. A hearing may be postponed by the Judge on the Judge's own initiative or for good cause shown upon the motion of a party. A motion for postponement shall state the position of the other parties, either by a joint motion or by a representation of the moving party. The filing of a motion for postponement does not automatically postpone a hearing. The form and content of such motions shall comply with § 2200.40.

(b) Grounds for postponement. A motion for postponement grounded on conflicting engagements of counsel or employment of new counsel shall be promptly filed.

(c) When motion must be received. A motion to postpone a hearing must be received at least 10 days prior to the hearing. A motion for postponement received less than 10 days prior to the hearing will generally be denied unless good cause is shown for late filing.

(d) Postponement in excess of 60 days. No postponement in excess of 60 days shall be granted without the concurrence of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The original of any motion seeking a postponement in excess of 60 days shall be filed with the Judge and a copy sent to the Chief Administrative Law Judge.

(a) Motion for stay. Stays are not favored. A party seeking a stay of a case assigned to a Judge shall file a motion for stay conforming to § 2200.40 with the Judge and send a copy to the Chief Administrative Law Judge. A motion for a stay shall state the position of the other parties, either by a joint motion or by the representation of the moving party. The motion shall set forth the reasons a stay is sought and the length of the stay requested.

(b) Ruling on motion to stay. The Judge, with the concurrence of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, may grant any motion for stay for the period requested or for such period as is deemed appropriate.

(c) Periodic reports required. The parties in a stayed proceeding shall be required to submit periodic reports on such terms and conditions as the Judge may direct. The length of time between the reports shall be no longer than 90 days unless the Judge otherwise orders.

(a) Attendance at hearing. The failure of a party to appear in person or by a duly authorized representative at the hearing constitutes a waiver of the right to a hearing. A failure of the Secretary to appear constitutes abandonment of the case. A failure of the Respondent to appear is deemed an admission of the facts alleged and consent to the relief sought in the Complaint (or, in Simplified Proceedings, the citation and notification of proposed penalty). The Judge may default the non-appearing party without further proceeding or notice.

(b) Requests for reinstatement. Requests for reinstatement must be made, in the absence of extraordinary circumstances, within 7 days after the scheduled hearing date. See § 2200.90(c).

(c) Rescheduling hearing. The Commission or the Judge, upon a showing of good cause, may excuse such failure to appear. In such event, the hearing will be rescheduled as expeditiously as possible from the issuance of the Judge's order.

(a) Issuance of subpoenas. On behalf of the Commission or any Commission member, the Judge shall, on the application of any party, issue to the applying party subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and/or the production of any evidence, including, but not limited to, relevant books, records, correspondence, or documents, in the witness' possession or under the witness' control, at a deposition or at a hearing before the Commission or the Judge. The party to whom the subpoena is issued shall be responsible for its service. Applications for subpoenas, if filed prior to the assignment of the case to a Judge, shall be filed with the Executive Secretary at One Lafayette Centre, 1120 20th Street NW, Suite 980, Washington, DC 20036-3457. After the case has been assigned to a Judge, applications shall be filed with the Judge. Applications for subpoena(s) may be made ex parte. The subpoena shall show on its face the name and address of the party at whose request the subpoena was issued.

(b) Service of subpoenas. A subpoena may be served by any person who is not a party and is not less than 18 years of age. Service of a subpoena upon the person it names may be made by service on the person named, by certified mail return receipt requested, or by leaving a copy at the person's principal place of business or at the person's residence with a person of suitable age and discretion who resides there. A subpoena may be served at any place in the United States or any Territory or possession of the United States. A subpoena may command a person to attend and produce documents or tangible things, from any place in the United States or any Territory or possession of the United States, at any designated place of hearing or deposition.

(c) Revocation or modification of subpoenas. Any person served with a subpoena, whether requiring attendance and testimony (ad testificandum) or for the production of evidence (duces tecum), shall, within 5 days after the date of service of the subpoena, move in writing to revoke or modify the subpoena if the person does not intend to comply. All motions to revoke or modify shall be served on the party at whose request the subpoena was issued. The Commission or the Judge shall revoke or modify the subpoena if in its opinion the evidence whose production is required does not relate to any matter under investigation or in question in the proceedings or the subpoena does not describe with sufficient particularity the evidence to be produced, or if for any other reason sufficient in law the subpoena is otherwise invalid. The Commission or the Judge shall make a simple statement of procedural or other grounds for the ruling on the motion to revoke, modify, or affirm. The motion to revoke or modify, any answer filed, and any ruling on the motion shall become part of the record.

(d) Rights of persons compelled to submit data or other information in documents. Persons compelled to submit data or other information at a public proceeding are entitled to retain documents they submitted that contain the data or information, or to procure a copy of such documents upon their payment of lawfully prescribed costs. If such persons submit the data or other information by testimony, they are entitled to a copy of the transcript of their testimony upon their payment of the lawfully prescribed costs.

(e) Witness fees and mileage. Witnesses summoned to appear for a deposition or to appear before the Commission or the Judge shall be paid the same witness fees and mileage expense that are paid witnesses in the federal courts. Witness fees and mileage expense shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witness appears.

(f) Failure to comply with subpoena. Upon the failure of any person to comply with the subpoena issued upon the request of a party, the Commission by its counsel shall recommend to the U.S. Department of Justice that proceedings be initiated in the appropriate district court for the enforcement of the subpoena, if in the Commission's judgment the enforcement of the subpoena would be consistent with law and with policies of the Act. In such instances, neither the Commission nor its counsel shall be deemed to have assumed responsibility for the effective prosecution of the subpoena before the court.

(a) Hearings. Hearings shall be transcribed verbatim. A copy of the transcript of testimony taken at the hearing, duly certified by the reporter, shall be filed with the Judge before whom the matter was heard.

(b) Payment for transcript. The Commission shall bear all expenses for court reporters' fees and for copies of the hearing transcript received by it. Each party is responsible for securing and paying for its copy of the transcript.

(c) Correction of errors. Error in the transcript of the hearing may be corrected by the Judge on the Judge's own motion, on joint motion by the parties, or on motion by any party. The motion shall conform to § 2200.40 and shall state the error in the transcript and the correction to be made. The official transcript shall reflect the corrections.

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

(a) Administer oaths and affirmations;

(b) Issue authorized subpoenas and rule on petitions to modify, revoke, or affirm, in accordance with § 2200.65;

(c) Rule on claims of privilege and claims that information is protected and issue protective orders, in accordance with § 2200.52(d) and (e).

(d) Rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;

(e) Take or cause depositions to be taken whenever the needs of justice would be served;

(f) 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;

(g) Hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues;

(h) Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters, including motions referred to the Judge by the Commission and motions to amend pleadings; also to dismiss complaints, or portions of complaints, and to order hearings reopened or, upon motion, consolidated prior to issuance of a decision;

(i) Make decisions that conform to 5 U.S.C. 557 of the Administrative Procedure Act;

(j) Call and examine witnesses and to introduce into the record documentary or other evidence;

(k) Approve or appoint an interpreter;

(l) Request the parties to state their respective positions concerning any issue in the case or theory in support of their position;

(m) Adjourn the hearing as the needs of justice and good administration require;

(n) Take any other action necessary under the foregoing and authorized by the published rules and regulations of the Commission.

(a) Discretionary recusal. A Judge may recuse themself from a proceeding whenever the Judge deems it appropriate.

(b) Mandatory recusal. A Judge shall recuse themself under circumstances that would require disqualification of a Federal judge under Canon 3(C) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, except that the required recusal may be set aside under the conditions specified by Canon 3(D).

(c) Request for recusal. Any party may request that the Judge, at any time following the Judge's designation and before the filing of a decision, be recused under paragraph (a) or (b) of this section or both by filing with the Judge, promptly upon the discovery of the alleged facts, an affidavit setting forth in detail the matters alleged to constitute grounds for recusal.

(d) Ruling on request. If the Judge finds that a request for recusal has been filed with due diligence and that the material filed in support of the request establishes that recusal either is appropriate under paragraph (a) of this section or is required under paragraph (b) of this section, the Judge shall recuse themself from the proceeding. If the Judge denies a request for recusal, the Judge shall issue a ruling on the record, stating the grounds for denying the request, and shall proceed with the hearing, or, if the hearing has closed, proceed with the issuance of a decision under the provisions of § 2200.90.

Witnesses shall be examined orally under oath or affirmation. Opposing parties have the right to cross-examine any witness whose testimony is introduced by an adverse party. All parties shall have the right to cross-examine any witness called by the Judge pursuant to § 2200.67(j).

(a) Marking exhibits. All exhibits offered in evidence by a party shall be marked for identification before or during the hearing. Exhibits shall be marked with the case docket number, with a designation identifying the party or intervenor offering the exhibit, and numbered consecutively.

(b) Removal or substitution of exhibits in evidence. Unless the Judge finds it impractical, a copy of each exhibit shall be given to the other parties and intervenors. A party may remove an exhibit from the official record during the hearing or at the conclusion of the hearing only upon permission of the Judge. The Judge, in the Judge's discretion, may permit the substitution of a duplicate for any original document offered into evidence.

(c) Reasons for denial of admitting exhibit. A Judge may, in the Judge's discretion, deny the admission of any exhibit because of its excessive size, weight, or other characteristic that prohibits its convenient transportation and storage. A party may offer into evidence photographs, models, or other representations of any such exhibit.

(d) Rejected exhibits. All exhibits offered but denied admission into evidence, except exhibits referred to in paragraph (c) of this section, shall be placed in a separate file designated for rejected exhibits.

(e) Return of physical exhibits. A party may on motion request the return of a physical exhibit within 30 days after expiration of the time for filing a petition for review of a Commission final order in a United States Court of Appeals under section 11 of the Act, 29 U.S.C. 660, or within 30 days after completion of any proceedings initiated in a Court of Appeals. The motion shall be addressed to the Executive Secretary and provide supporting reasons. The exhibit shall be returned if the Executive Secretary determines that it is no longer necessary for use in any Commission proceeding.

(f) Request for custody of physical exhibit. Any person may on motion to the Executive Secretary request custody of a physical exhibit for use in any court or tribunal. The motion shall state the reasons for the request and the duration of custody requested. If the exhibit has been admitted in a pending Commission case, the motion shall be served on all parties to the proceeding. Any person granted custody of an exhibit shall inform the Executive Secretary of the status every 6 months (e.g., 6 months after January 15 would be July 15) of the person's continuing need for the exhibit and return the exhibit after completion of the proceeding.

(g) Disposal of physical exhibit. Any physical exhibit may be disposed of by the Commission's Executive Secretary subject to the requirements of the National Archives and Records Administration.

The Federal Rules of Evidence are applicable.

(a) Statement of objection. Any objection with respect to the conduct of the hearing, including any objection to the introduction of evidence or a ruling by the Judge, may be stated orally or in writing, accompanied by a short statement of the grounds for the objection, and shall be included in the record. No such objection shall be deemed waived by further participation in the hearing.

(b) Offer of proof. Whenever evidence is excluded from the record, the party offering such evidence may make an offer of proof, which shall be included in the record of the proceeding.

(c) Once the Judge rules definitively on the record—either before or at the hearing—a party need not renew an objection or offer of proof to preserve a claim of error for appeal.

(a) General. Interlocutory review of a Judge's ruling is discretionary with the Commission. A petition for interlocutory review may be granted only where the petition asserts and the Commission finds:

(1) That the review involves an important question of law or policy that controls the outcome of the case, and that immediate review of the ruling will materially expedite the final disposition of the proceedings or subsequent review by the Commission may provide an inadequate remedy; or

(2) That the ruling will result in a disclosure, before the Commission may review the Judge's report, of information that is alleged to be privileged.

(b) Petition for interlocutory review. Within 7 days following the service of a Judge's ruling from which review is sought, a party may file a petition for interlocutory review with the Commission. Responses to the petition, if any, shall be filed within 7 days following service of the petition. Service of the filed petition on the other parties and intervenors shall be accomplished in a manner prescribed in § 2200.7(c). A copy of the petition and responses shall be filed with the Judge. The petition is denied unless granted within 30 days of the date of receipt by the Commission's Executive Secretary. A corporate party that files a petition for interlocutory review or a response to such a petition under this section shall file with the Commission a copy of its declaration of corporate parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates previously filed with the Judge under the requirements of § 2200.35 or § 2200.37(d)(4). In its discretion the Commission may refuse to accept for filing a petition or response that fails to comply with this disclosure requirement. A corporate party filing the declaration required by this paragraph shall have a continuing duty to advise the Executive Secretary of any changes to its declaration until the petition is deemed denied or a decision is issued on the merits.

(c) Denial without prejudice. The Commission's decision not to grant a petition for interlocutory review shall not preclude a party from raising an objection to the Judge's interlocutory ruling in a petition for discretionary review.

(d) Stay—(1) Trade secret matters. The filing of a petition for interlocutory review of a Judge's ruling concerning an alleged trade secret shall stay the effect of the ruling until the petition is deemed denied or ruled upon.

(2) Other cases. In all other cases, the filing or granting of a petition for interlocutory review shall not stay a proceeding or the effect of a ruling unless otherwise ordered.

(e) Judge's comments. The Judge may be requested to provide the Commission with written views on whether the petition is meritorious. When the written comments are filed with the Commission, the Judge shall serve the comments on all parties in a manner prescribed in § 2200.7(c).

(f) Briefs. Notice shall be given to the parties if the Commission decides to request briefs on the issues raised by an interlocutory review. See § 2200.93—Briefs before the Commission.

(g) When filing effective. A petition for interlocutory review is deemed to be filed only when received by the Commission, as specified in § 2200.8(d)(3)(ii).

(a) General. A party is entitled to a reasonable period at the close of the hearing for oral argument, which shall be included in the transcript of the hearing. Any party shall be entitled, upon request made before the close of hearing, to file a brief, proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, or both, with the Judge. In lieu of briefs, the Judge may permit or direct the parties to file memoranda or statements of authority.

(b) Time. Briefs shall be filed simultaneously on a date established by the Judge. A motion for extension of time for filing any brief shall be made at least 3 working days prior to the due date and shall recite that the moving party has conferred with the other parties on the motion. Reply briefs shall not be allowed except by order of the Judge.

(c) Untimely briefs. Untimely briefs will not be accepted unless accompanied by a motion setting forth good cause for the delay. The form and content of motions shall comply with § 2200.40.