§  1.243   Authority of presiding officer.

   From the time he is designated to preside until issuance of his
   decision or the transfer of the proceeding to the Commission or to
   another presiding officer the presiding officer shall have such
   authority as is vested in him by law and by the provisions of this
   chapter, including authority to:

   (a) Administer oaths and affirmations;

   (b) Issue subpenas;

   (c) Examine witnesses;

   (d) Rule upon questions of evidence;

   (e) Take or cause depositions to be taken;

   (f) Regulate the course of the hearing, maintain decorum, and exclude
   from the hearing any person engaging in contemptuous conduct or
   otherwise disrupting the proceedings;

   (g) Require the filing of memoranda of law and the presentation of oral
   argument with respect to any question of law upon which he is required
   to rule during the course of the hearing;

   (h) Hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues
   by consent of the parties;

   (i) Dispose of procedural requests or similar matters, as provided for
   in § 0.341 of this chapter;

   (j) Take actions and make decisions in conformity with the
   Administrative Procedure Act;

   (k) Act on motions to enlarge, modify or delete the hearing issues; and

   (l) Act on motions to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to § 1.224.

   (5 U.S.C. 556)

   [ 28 FR 12425 , Nov. 22, 1963, as amended at  41 FR 53022 , Dec. 3, 1976]