Title 20

SECTION 725.351

725.351 Powers of adjudication officers.

§ 725.351 Powers of adjudication officers.

(a) District Director. The district director is authorized to:

(1) Make determinations with respect to claims as is provided in this part;

(2) Conduct conferences and informal discovery proceedings as provided in this part;

(3) Compel the production of documents by the issuance of a subpoena;

(4) Prepare documents for the signature of parties;

(5) Issue appropriate orders as provided in this part; and

(6) Do all other things necessary to enable him or her to discharge the duties of the office.

(b) Administrative Law Judge. An administrative law judge is authorized to:

(1) Conduct formal hearings in accordance with the provisions of this part;

(2) Administer oaths and examine witnesses;

(3) Compel the production of documents and appearance of witnesses by the issuance of subpoenas;

(4) Issue decisions and orders with respect to claims as provided in this part; and

(5) Do all other things necessary to enable him or her to discharge the duties of the office.

(c) If any person in proceedings before an adjudication officer disobeys or resists any lawful order or process, or misbehaves during a hearing or so near the place thereof as to obstruct the same, or neglects to produce, after having been ordered to do so, any pertinent book, paper or document, or refuses to appear after having been subpoenaed, or upon appearing refuses to take the oath as a witness, or after having taken the oath refuses to be examined according to law, the district director, or the administrative law judge responsible for the adjudication of the claim, shall certify the facts to the Federal district court having jurisdiction in the place in which he or she is sitting (or to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia if he or she is sitting in the District) which shall thereupon in a summary manner hear the evidence as to the acts complained of, and, if the evidence so warrants, punish such person in the same manner and to the same extent as for a contempt committed before the court, or commit such person upon the same condition as if the doing of the forbidden act had occurred with reference to the process or in the presence of the court.

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