Hearing officer: Assignment and powers.

§ 13.37 Hearing officer: Assignment and powers. As soon as practicable after the filing of the complaint, the Director of the Office of Adjudication will assign a hearing officer to preside over the matter. The hearing officer may— (a) Give notice concerning, and hold, prehearing conferences and hearings; (b) Administer oaths and affirmations; (c) Examine witnesses; (d) Adopt procedures for the submission of evidence in written form; (e) Issue subpoenas; (f) Rule on offers of proof; (g) Receive evidence; (h) Regulate the course of proceedings, including but not limited to discovery, motions practice, imposition of sanctions, and the hearing; (i) Hold conferences, before and during the hearing, to settle and simplify issues by consent of the parties; (j) Dispose of procedural requests and similar matters; (k) Issue protective orders governing the exchange and safekeeping of information otherwise protected by law, except that national security information may not be disclosed under such an order; (l) Issue orders and decisions, and make findings of fact, as appropriate; and (m) Take any other action authorized by this subpart.