Section  1620.520 Hearings

a)         The Chair shall preside over all hearings unless, at the election of the Commission, the Chair designates an administrative law judge to act as a hearing officer.  The administrative law judges shall be licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and may be a commissioner or regular or contractual employee of the Commission.  The Commission shall grant, for good cause shown, a petition from either party seeking disqualification of the administrative law judge or a commissioner for bias or conflict of interest.

b)         All hearings shall be closed to the public.

c)         Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the contested case provisions of Article 10 of the Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/Art. 10].

d)         At the conclusion of the hearing, the Chair or the administrative law judge, if any, may set a briefing schedule.

e)         If a party, or any person at the instance of or in collusion with a party, unreasonably refuses or fails to comply with these Rules or with any order of the Commission, Chair or administrative law judge, the Chair or administrative law judge may enter an adverse finding, or order as may be necessary to ensure just disposition of the matter.

f)          The Chair or the administrative law judge presiding at the hearing may conduct any additional proceedings ancillary to or related to the hearing as he deems appropriate.