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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 15. PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CABLE TELEVISION |
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Chapter 15-1. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RULES OF PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE |
Section 15-111. CONDUCT DURING PROCEEDINGS
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111.1In addition to the requirements of § 108, any attorney who participates in any proceeding before the Commission shall comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission and shall adhere to the standards of the ethical conduct required of attorneys before the courts of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Code of Professional Conduct.
111.2No restrictions in this section shall preclude an attorney from replying to charges of misconduct publicly made against him or her, or from participating in the proceedings of legislative, administrative, or other investigative bodies.
111.3In all proceedings before the Commission, no attorney, other than the Commission's General Counsel or his or her designee, shall communicate, or cause another to communicate as to the merits of the cause, with any Commissioner or examiner before whom the proceeding is pending, except as follows:
(a)In the course of official proceedings in the cause; and
(b)In writing directed to the Secretary of the Commission with copies served upon all other counsel of record.
111.4It is improper for any party, or person representing a party, in a case before the Commission to attempt to sway the judgment of the Commission in that case by undertaking directly or indirectly, through a third party outside the hearing process, to bring pressure or influence to bear upon the Commission, its Staff, or the presiding officer assigned to the proceeding.
111.5Requests for expeditious treatment of matters pending with the Commission are improper except when filed with the Secretary and copies served upon all other parties or unless made before the Commission or its hearing agent at a hearing.
111.6No member of the Commission, presiding officer, or employee of the Commission shall invite or knowingly entertain any prohibited ex parte communication, or make any communication to any party or counsel or agent of a party, or any other person who he or she has reason to know may transmit that communication to a party or party's agent.
111.7The Commission may disqualify and deny temporarily or permanently, the privilege of appearing or practicing before it in any way to any individual who, after a hearing, is found to have violated the requirements of this section. Violations of the requirements of this section by attorneys shall be referred to the appropriate District of Columbia Bar Committee for investigation.
111.8Conduct amounting to contempt at any hearing before the Commission or a member of the Commission or before a presiding officer of the Commission shall be grounds for exclusion from the hearing and for summary suspension without a hearing for the duration of the hearing or of the proceeding, or any part thereof.