1. (a) An arbitrator shall conduct an arbitration in a manner the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the dispute.
2. (b) An arbitrator shall provide each party a right to be heard, to present evidence material to the family law dispute, and to cross-examine witnesses.

3. (c) Unless the parties otherwise agree in a record, an arbitrator's powers include the power to:

   1. (1) Select the rules for conducting the arbitration;
   2. (2) Hold conferences with the parties before a hearing;
   3. (3) Determine the date, time, and place of a hearing;

   4. (4) Require a party to provide:

      1. (A) A copy of a relevant court order;
      2. (B) Information required to be disclosed in a family law proceeding under law of the District other than this chapter; and
      3. (C) A proposed award that addresses each issue in arbitration;
   5. (5) Meet with or interview a child who is the subject of a child-related dispute;
   6. (6) Appoint a private expert at the expense of the parties;
   7. (7) Administer an oath or affirmation and issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness or the production of documents and other evidence at a hearing;
   8. (8) Compel discovery concerning the family law dispute and determine the date, time, and place of discovery;
   9. (9) Determine the admissibility and weight of evidence;
   10. (10) Permit deposition of a witness for use as evidence at a hearing;
   11. (11) For good cause, prohibit a party from disclosing information;
   12. (12) Appoint an attorney, guardian ad litem, or other representative for a child at the expense of the parties;
   13. (13) Impose a procedure to protect a party or child from risk of harm, harassment, or intimidation;
   14. (14) Allocate arbitration fees, attorney's fees, expert-witness fees, and other costs to the parties; and
   15. (15) Impose a sanction on a party for bad faith or misconduct during the arbitration according to standards governing imposition of a sanction for litigant misconduct in a family law proceeding.
4. (d) An arbitrator may not allow ex parte communication except to the extent allowed in a family law proceeding for communication with a judge.

History

Mar. 10, 2023, D.C. Law 24-286, § 2(b)