Rule 28-301-13.18 - Authority of Chairman of the Board as Hearing OfficerThe Chairman of the Board, as hearing officer, in the conduct of the hearing, has the power, among others, to:
A. hold informal conferences to settle, simplify, or fix the issues in a proceeding, or to consider other matters that may aid in the expeditious disposition of the proceeding either by consent of the parties or upon such officer's own motion;B. require parties to state their positions with respect to the various issues in the proceeding;C. require parties to produce for examination those relevant witnesses and documents under their control;D. rule on motions, and other procedural items on matters pending before such officer;E. regulate the course of the hearing and conduct of participants therein;F. receive, rule on, exclude, or limit evidence and limit lines of questioning or testimony which are irrelevant, immaterial, or unduly repetitious;G. fix time limits for submission of written documents in matters before such officer;H. impose appropriate sanctions against any party or person failing to obey an order under these procedures, which sanctions may include: I. refusing to allow the disobedient party to support or oppose designated claims or defenses, or prohibiting that party from introducing designated matters in evidence; J. excluding all testimony of an unresponsive or evasive witness;K. expelling any party or person from further participation in the hearing; andL. take official notice of any material fact not appearing in evidence in the record, if such fact is among the traditional matters of judicial notice. 28 Miss. Code. R. 301-13.18
Mississippi Code §§ 59-1-1, 59-1-9 and 59-5-21