Section 130.1132  Disqualification of a Hearing Officer

a)         A Hearing Officer assigned to a hearing may, upon written request to and approval of the Secretary of State, recuse himself or herself.

b)         Whenever any party believes a Hearing Officer for any reason should be disqualified from conducting, or continuing to conduct, a proceeding assigned to him or her, such party may file a motion to disqualify the Hearing Officer, setting forth by affidavit the alleged grounds for disqualification.  The Hearing Officer shall have seven business days after filing of the motion within which to enter a written ruling.  A copy of the ruling shall be served upon all parties.  The Secretary of State may, on his or her own motion, review rulings denying or granting a motion for disqualification.

(Source:  Added at 22 Ill. Reg. 1933, effective January 1, 1998)