Office of Hearing Officers’ Decisions and Orders
The Office of Hearing Officers is an office of impartial adjudicators of disciplinary cases brought by FINRA’s Department of Enforcement against FINRA members.
The Office of Hearing Officers maintains strict independence from FINRA's regulatory programs and is physically separated from other FINRA departments.
Hearing officers are not involved in the investigative process. Employment protections exist for hearing officers to further ensure their independence; they may not be terminated except by the FINRA Chief Executive Officer, with a right to appeal to the Audit Committee of FINRA's Board of Governors.
View: Orders and Decisions Chronologically | Orders by Topic | Orders by Rule
| Date of Decision | Proceeding No. | Title | Type | Order No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 08, 2023 | 2021071137001 | Order Denying Respondents’ Discovery Requests | Disciplinary Order | 23-04 |
| February 03, 2023 | 2021070337501 | Order Denying Respondent’s Motion Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9253 | Disciplinary Order | 23-03 |
| January 13, 2023 | 2020066627202 | Order Denying Respondent’s Motion for Summary Disposition | Disciplinary Order | 23-01 |
| January 13, 2023 | 2020066627202 | Order Denying Respondent’s Motion to Strike | Disciplinary Order | 23-02 |
| January 03, 2023 | 2020067731001 | Patrick Matlock | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 22, 2022 | 2021071672302 | Jordan P. John | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 16, 2022 | 2021070867702 | David Hixon | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 02, 2022 | 2020066627202 | Oder Granting Enforcement’s Motion for Leave to Offer Expert Testimony of Arthur Middlemiss | Disciplinary Order | 22-23 |
| November 29, 2022 | 2021071965401 | Daniel Pita | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| November 25, 2022 | 2020065396501 | Order Granting, in Part, Respondent’s Motion to Extend Time to File Objections | Disciplinary Order | 22-22 |
| October 31, 2022 | 2019064813801 | Order Granting, in Part, Enforcement’s Motion for Interim Conditions and Restrictions on Respondents | Disciplinary Order | 22-21 |
| September 23, 2022 | 2017055886402 | Order Granting Motion for Continuance | Disciplinary Order | 22-20 |
| September 21, 2022 | 2018056490303 | Timothy P. Higgins | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| September 08, 2022 | 2017055886402 | Order Excluding Unqualified Attorney from Proceeding | Disciplinary Order | 22-18 |
| August 30, 2022 | 2017055886402 | Order Setting a Pre-Hearing Videoconference and Specifically Requiring Respondent to Attend | Disciplinary Order | 22-17 |
| August 26, 2022 | 2019064813801 | APPEALED: NYPPEX, LLC, Laurence Allen, and Michael Schunk | Disciplinary Decision | |
| August 18, 2022 | ARB220007 | Jeff Corey McElroy | Expedited Decision | |
| August 09, 2022 | 2020066627202 | Order Denying Enforcement's Motion to Strike Respondent's Second Affirmative Defense | Disciplinary Order | 22-16 |
| August 04, 2022 | ARB220010 | Order Dismissing Expedited Proceeding and Allowing Suspension to Take Effect | Expedited Order | EXP22-01 |
| July 25, 2022 | 2021071060902 | Gregory S. Hanshew | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| July 22, 2022 | 2020066627202 | Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Dismiss with Leave to Re-file as a Motion for Summary Disposition | Disciplinary Order | 22-15 |
| July 19, 2022 | 2020066032801 | Francis J. Velten | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| July 14, 2022 | 2019061528001 | Order Denying the Parties' Motions in Limine | Disciplinary Order | 22-13 |
| July 14, 2022 | 2019061528001 | Order Granting Enforcement's Motion for Leave to Use Demonstrative | Disciplinary Order | 22-14 |
| July 12, 2022 | FPI220001 | Ustocktrade Securities, Inc. | Expedited Decision |