(a) Department of Enforcement

With the prior written authorization of FINRA's Chief Executive Officer or such other senior officers as the Chief Executive Officer may designate, the Department of Enforcement may initiate: (1) a temporary cease and desist proceeding with respect to alleged violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and SEA Rule 10b-5 thereunder; SEA Rules 15g-1 through 15g-9; FINRA R

Any decision issued under Rule 9750 or Rule 9760, as applicable, shall constitute final FINRA action. A person aggrieved by any final FINRA action issued pursuant to Rule 9750 or Rule 9760 may make application for review to the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act.

The National Adjudicatory Council's Review Subcommittee (as defined in Rule 9120(aa)) may call for review a proposed decision that was prepared pursuant to Rule 9750 within 21 days after receipt of the decision from the Office of Hearing Officers. If the Review Subcommittee calls the proceeding for review within the prescribed time, a Subcommittee (as defined in Rule 9120(cc)) of the National Adjudicatory Council shall meet and conduct a review not later than 40 days after the call for review.

Decisions on applications shall be in writing and a copy shall be sent to the National Adjudicatory Council’s Review Subcommittee (as defined in Rule 9120(aa)). If not called for review in accordance with Rule 9760, the Hearing Officer shall issue its decision after being notified by the National Adjudicatory Council’s Review Subcommittee that the decision will not be called for review or upon expiration of the time allowed for call for review.

All applications shall be considered by a Hearing Officer (as defined in Rule 9120(r)) appointed by the Chief Hearing Officer (as defined in Rule 9120(b)). Unless otherwise specified in FINRA rules, the applicant shall be entitled to be heard in person or telephonically and by counsel and to submit any relevant matter. In any such proceeding a record shall be kept.

Upon request, the applicant shall be granted a hearing after reasonable notice. In the absence of such request for a hearing, FINRA's Office of Hearing Officers may, in its discretion, have any application set down for hearing or consider the matter on the basis of the application and supporting documents.

All applications shall be in writing, and shall specify in reasonable detail the nature of and basis for the redress requested. If the application consists of several allegations, each allegation shall be stated separately.

The purpose of this Rule 9700 Series is to provide, where justified, redress for persons aggrieved by the operations of any automated quotation, execution, or communication system owned or operated by FINRA, or FINRA Regulation, and approved by the SEC, not otherwise provided for by the FINRA rules.