No person shall participate as an Adjudicator in a matter governed by the Code as to which he or she has a conflict of interest or bias, or circumstances otherwise exist where his or her fairness might reasonably be questioned.

(a) Exclusion

An Adjudicator may exclude an attorney for a Party or other person authorized to represent others by Rule 9141 from acting as counsel, acting in any representative capacity, or otherwise appearing in a particular Rule 9000 Series proceeding for contemptuous conduct under Rule 9280 or unethical or improper professional cond

Except as provided in Rule 9280, there shall be no interlocutory review of a ruling or order issued by any Adjudicator in a proceeding governed by the Code.

The FINRA Board, the National Adjudicatory Council, a Hearing Officer, or any other Adjudicator shall have full authority, except as otherwise provided by the Code, to rule on a procedural motion and any other procedural or administrative matter arising during the course of a proceeding conducted pursuant to the Code, subject to the rights of review or appeal provided by the Code.

A Party may make a written or oral motion, subject to limitations set forth below.

(a) Rules of Evidence

The formal rules of evidence shall not apply in a proceeding brought under the Rule 9000 Series.

(b) Official Notice

In a proceeding governed by the Rule 9000 Series, an Adjudicator may take official notice of such matters as might be judicially noticed by a court, or of othe

(a) Interested FINRA Staff

Except as counsel or a witness in a proceeding or as provided in the Rule 9550 Series, Interested FINRA Staff is prohibited from advising an Adjudicator regarding a decision or otherwise participating in a decision of an Adjudicator.

(a) Prohibited Communications

Unless on notice and opportunity for all Parties to participate, or to the extent required for the disposition of ex parte matters as authorized by the Rule 9000 Series:

An attorney for a Party or other person authorized to represent others by Rule 9141seeking to withdraw his or her appearance shall file a motion to withdraw.

(a) Representing Oneself

In any proceeding, a person may appear on his or her own behalf.