237 CONDUCT OF HEARINGS

237.1 Each hearing shall be conducted by an impartial hearing examiner who has no involvement with the action which is at issue in the hearing or with the administration or operation of the Blind Vendor Program.

237.2 Each hearing shall be recorded verbatim, shall be conducted in accordance with D.C. Code, 2001 Ed. § 2-509, and shall be open to the public unless the hearing examiner for good cause shown determines otherwise.

237.3 The hearing examiner shall receive oral and documentary evidence, but shall exclude irrelevant, immaterial, and unduly repetitious evidence.

237.4 Each party shall have the following rights:

(a) To call and examine witnesses;

(b) To introduce documentary evidence;

(c) To cross examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues under review even though that matter was not covered in the direct examination; and

(d) To submit rebuttal evidence.

237.5 All papers and documents introduced into evidence at the hearing shall be filed with the hearing examiner and provided to the other parties. All such documents and other evidence submitted shall be open to examination by the parties and opportunities shall be given to refute facts and arguments advanced on either side of the issues.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 8538 (December 9, 1988).