OAR 137-003-0595: Public Attendance; Exclusion of Witnesses; Removal of Disruptive Individuals

(1) Unless otherwise required by law, contested case hearings are open to the public unless the agency by rule or in writing determines that the hearing will be closed to non-participants in the hearing. (2) The administrative law judge may exclude witnesses from the hearing, except for a party, a party's authorized representative, expert witnesses, the agency representative, one agency officer or employee and any persons authorized by statute to attend. (3) An administrative law judge may expel any person from the contested case hearing if that person engages in conduct that disrupts the hearing. (4) Any party, party's representative, agency or agency's representative, having knowledge or reasonable belief that any person participating in the hearing may present a danger or may be a threat to anyone involved in the hearing, should immediately notify the Office of Administrative Hearings or the assigned administrative law judge, if any, the agency and the parties or their representatives, if appropriate, of the potential danger. (5) An administrative law judge, the Office of Administrative Hearings, or the agency may take any other measures reasonably required to ensure the safety and security of the participants in the hearing.