9532. Hearing

(1) Appointment of Hearing Officer

If a hearing is requested, the Chief Hearing Officer shall appoint a Hearing Officer to conduct the hearing and decide whether the member or the person's registration should be suspended or canceled.

(2) Parties

The Parties shall be the member or person to whom the notice was issued and the NASD Treasurer.

(3) Time of Hearing

The hearing shall be held within 45 days after the date of service of the notice under Rule 9531. Not later than seven days before the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall serve the Parties with written notice of the date and time of the hearing.

(4) Transmission of Documents

Not later than seven days before the hearing, the NASD Treasurer shall serve the member or person associated with a member via overnight courier with all documents that were considered in connection with the decision to issue a notice under Rule 9531 and provide copies of the same to the Hearing Officer.

(5) Counsel

The Parties may be represented by counsel at a hearing conducted under this Rule.

(6) Evidence

Formal rules of evidence shall not apply to a hearing under this Rule. Not later than four days before the hearing, the Parties shall exchange copies of proposed hearing exhibits and witness lists and provide copies of the same to the Hearing Officer.

(7) Witnesses

A person who is subject to the jurisdiction of the Association shall testify under oath or affirmation. The oath or affirmation shall be administered by a court reporter or a notary public.

(8) Additional Information

At any time during its consideration, the Hearing Officer may direct the Parties to submit additional information. Any additional information submitted shall be provided promptly to all Parties at least one business day before the Hearing Officer renders his or her decision.

(9) Transcript

The hearing shall be recorded and a transcript prepared by a court reporter. A Party may purchase a copy of the transcript from the court reporter at prescribed rates. A witness may purchase a copy of the transcript of his or her own testimony from the court reporter at prescribed rates. Proposed corrections to the transcript may be submitted by affidavit to the Hearing Officer within a reasonable time determined by the Hearing Officer. Upon notice to the participants in the hearing, the Hearing Officer may order corrections to the transcript as requested or sua sponte.

(10) Record

The record shall consist of all documents that were considered in connection with the decision to issue a notice under Rule 9531, the notice issued under Rule 9531, the request for hearing filed under Rule 9532, the transcript of the hearing, and each document or other item of evidence presented to or considered by the Hearing Officer. The Office of Hearing Officers shall be the custodian of the record.

(11) Failure to Appear at Hearing

If a member or person fails to appear at a hearing for which he has notice, the Hearing Officer may dismiss the request for a hearing as abandoned, and the notice issued under Rule 9531 shall become final. Upon a showing of good cause, the Hearing Officer may withdraw a dismissal entered pursuant to this subparagraph.