Section 62-19-7 - [See Note] Recusal of commissioner or hearing examinerA. A commissioner or hearing examiner shall self recuse in any adjudicatory proceeding in which the commissioner or hearing examiner is unable to make a fair and impartial decision or in which there is reasonable doubt about whether the commissioner or hearing examiner can make a fair and impartial decision, including:(1) when the commissioner or hearing examiner has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or its representative or has prejudged a disputed evidentiary fact involved in a proceeding prior to hearing. For the purposes of this paragraph, "personal bias or prejudice" means a predisposition toward a person based on a previous or ongoing relationship, including a professional, personal, familial or other intimate relationship, that renders the commissioner or hearing examiner unable to exercise the commissioner's or hearing examiner's functions impartially; (2) when the commissioner or hearing examiner has a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the proceeding other than as a customer of a party;(3) when in previous employment the commissioner or hearing examiner served as an attorney, adviser, consultant or witness in the matter in controversy; or (4) when, as a nominee for appointment to the office of public regulation commissioner, the nominee announced how the nominee would rule on the adjudicatory proceeding or a factual issue in the adjudicatory proceeding.B. If a commissioner or hearing examiner fails to self recuse when it appears that grounds exist, a party shall promptly notify the commissioner or hearing examiner of the apparent grounds for recusal. If the commissioner or hearing examiner declines to self recuse upon request of a party, the commissioner or hearing examiner shall provide a full explanation in support of the refusal. Laws 1998, ch. 108, § 18; § 8-8-18, recompiled and amended as § 62-19-7 by Laws 2020, ch. 9, § 22.