D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-E1408
All hearings held pursuant to § 1407 shall be closed to the public unless the employee requesting the hearing specifically requests that the hearing be open.
An open hearing may be closed at any time upon the request of the employee.
The rules of evidence shall not be strictly applied by the hearing officer; however, the hearing officer shall have the authority to use the rules of evidence currently in effect in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as guidelines for the orderly conduct of the hearing. The hearing officer shall exclude any evidence or testimony that is irrelevant or repetitive.
An electronic recording of the hearing shall be made.
All testimony shall be given under oath or affirmation administered by the hearing officer.
Any person may be excluded from the hearing by the hearing officer for conduct that interferes with the hearing process.
The hearing officer may request proposed findings or post-hearing briefs on any issue.
Any party may file a post-hearing brief at the conclusion of the hearing at its own initiative.
The official record of the hearing shall consist of the following:
The hearing officer shall make written findings and recommendations within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing.
Findings and recommendations shall be filed with the hearing office which shall forward copies to each party or its representative.
Within seven (7) days of the receipt of the copy of the hearing officer's findings and recommendations, any party or its representative may submit to the hearing office written exceptions to the findings and recommendations.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-E1408