In a hearing, can each party excuse one board member or hearing officer?

The assertion that each party can excuse one board member or hearing officer in a hearing is accurate, especially when proper notice is provided. This process is part of ensuring fair representation and impartiality during hearings. When a party to a hearing has concerns about a board member’s potential bias, conflict of interest, or any other apprehension regarding impartiality, they can request the removal of that member. This practice upholds the integrity of the proceedings and is generally considered best practice in a variety of legal and administrative contexts.

Proper notice is crucial, as it ensures that the other parties involved are adequately informed about the excusal. This helps maintain transparency and allows for the orderly management of the hearing process. The structure provided for such requests often varies across different jurisdictions and the specific rules governing each hearing, but the core principle of allowing such excusals under the right conditions remains consistent.

In the context of the other options, they either misinterpret the process or apply unnecessary restrictions that are not normally part of standard procedure. Thus, the statement accurately reflects a fundamental procedural aspect of hearings.