Abstention; Recusal; and

Ex Parte Communications. (a) By Counsel. If Counsel determines that the ODC should abstain from a particular matter, Counsel shall inform the Board Chairperson, who shall appoint Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel to discharge the powers and duties of Counsel. (b) By Board Members. If a Board member determines that he or she should abstain from a particular matter, the Board member shall inform the Board Chairperson. (c) By Hearing Officers or Hearing Committee Members. If a Hearing Officer or a Hearing Committee member determines that he or she should abstain from a particular matter, he or she shall inform the Board Chairperson. (d) Ex Parte Communication. Except as otherwise provided herein, ex parte communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding between the ODC, a Respondent, or a Respondent’s counsel, on the one hand, and any member of the Board, a Hearing Officer or a member of a Hearing Committee, on the other hand, are prohibited. (Amended March 28, 2013, further amended April 24, 2014.)