Section 2605.200  Hearing Officer

In any Administrative Hearing, the Department shall appoint and/or retain an impartial or independent person as a Hearing Officer to conduct the Administrative Hearing.  The Hearing Officer shall meet the following standards and qualifications:

a)         be of high integrity, good personal repute, and impartial;

b)         be a member in good standing of the Bar of Illinois;

c)         be familiar with the rules of evidence applied in civil cases in the circuit courts of Illinois and with the IAPA and rules promulgated under the IAPA;

d)         The Department is not prohibited from selecting a Department employee to act as the hearing officer provided that that employee meets the above qualifications and has not had any direct involvement with the case.  Mere familiarity with the facts shall not disqualify an otherwise qualified person from action as the Hearing Officer.