Rule 9 - ABSTENTION; RECUSAL; AND EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS(a)By Counsel. If Counsel determines that the ODC should abstain from a particular matter, Counsel shall inform the Board Chairperson, who shall appoint Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel to discharge the powers and duties of Counsel.(b)By Board Members. If a Board member determines that he or she should abstain from a particular matter, the Board member shall inform the Board Chairperson.(c)By Hearing Officers or Hearing Committee Members. If a Hearing Officer or a Hearing Committee member determines that he or she should abstain from a particular matter, he or she shall inform the Board Chairperson.(d)Ex Parte Communication. Except as otherwise provided herein, ex parte communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding between the ODC, a Respondent, or a Respondent's counsel, on the one hand, and any member of the Board, a Hearing Officer or a member of a Hearing Committee, on the other hand, are prohibited. Amended 3/28/2013, further amended 4/24/2014.