Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-33.11 - Disqualification

(1) A presiding officer or other person will withdraw from participation in the making of any proposed or final decision in a contested case if that person:

a. Has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or a representative of a party;

b. Has personally investigated, prosecuted, or advocated, in connection with that case, the specific controversy underlying that case, another pending factually related contested case, or a pending factually related controversy that may culminate in a contested case involving the same parties;

c. Is subject to the authority, direction or discretion of any person who has personally investigated, prosecuted or advocated, in connection with that contested case, the specific controversy underlying that contested case, or a pending factually related contested case or controversy involving the same parties;

d. Has acted as counsel to any person who is a private party to that proceeding within the past two years;

e. Has a personal financial interest in the outcome of the case or any other significant personal interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the case;

f. Has a spouse or relative within the third degree of relationship who:

(1) Is a party to the case, or an officer, director or trustee of a party;

(2) Is a lawyer in the case;

(3) Is known to have an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the case; or

(4) Is likely to be a material witness in the case; or

g. Has any other legally sufficient cause to withdraw from participation.

(2) The term "personally investigated" means taking affirmative steps to interview witnesses directly or to obtain documents or other information directly. The term "personally investigated" does not include:

a. General direction and supervision of assigned investigators;

b. Unsolicited receipt of information that is relayed to assigned investigators;

c. Review of another person's investigative work product in the course of determining whether there is probable cause to initiate a proceeding; or

d. Exposure to factual information while performing other board functions, including fact gathering for purposes other than investigation of the matter that culminates in a contested case.

(3) Factual information relevant to the merits of a contested case received by a person who later serves as presiding officer in that case will be disclosed if required by Iowa Code section 17A.17(3) and subrule 33.27(9).

(4) By electing to participate in an appearance before the board pursuant to rule 641-34.7 (17A), the licensee waives any objection to a board member's participating as a decision maker in a contested case proceeding on the grounds that the board member "personally investigated" the matter under this provision.

(5) If a presiding officer or other person knows of information that might reasonably be deemed to be a basis for disqualification and decides voluntary withdrawal is unnecessary, that person will submit the relevant information from the records by affidavit including a statement of the reasons for the determination that withdrawal is unnecessary.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-33.11

ARC 9057B, IAB 9/8/10, effective 10/13/10 Adopted by IAB May 15, 2024/Volume XLVI, Number 24, effective 6/19/2024