(a) Appointment. An Administrative Law Judge, appointed as provided by 5 U.S.C. 3105,shall,certified,or.

(b) Responsibilities. The Administrative Law Judge in connection with any disbarment or suspension proceeding shall have authority to:

(1) Administer oaths and affirmation;

(2) Make rulings upon motions and requests; these rulings may not be appealed prior to the close of the hearing except at the discretion of the Administrative Law Judge in extraordinary circumstances;

(3) Rule upon offers of proof, receive relevant evidence, and examine witnesses;

(4) Take or authorize to the taking of depositions;

(5) Determine the time and place of hearing and regulate its course and conduct;

(6) Hold or provide for the holding of conferences to settle or simplify the issues by consent of the parties;

(7) Receive and consider oral or written arguments on facts or law;

(8) Make initial decisions;

(9) Adopt rules of procedure and modify them from time to time as occasion requires for the orderly disposition of proceedings; and

(10) Perform acts and take measures as necessary to promote the efficient conduct of any proceeding.