Sec.  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
    Sec. 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  Sec. 1.224.

   (5 U.S.C. 556)

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