RULE 15. DISCOVERY

A. Witnesses. Within 20 days of the filing of an answer, disciplinary counsel and respondent shall exchange the names and addresses of all persons known to have knowledge of the relevant facts. Disciplinary counsel or the respondent may withhold such information only with permission of the chair of the hearing panel or the chair's designee, who can authorize withholding of the information only for good cause shown, taking into consideration the materiality of the information possessed by the witness and the position the witness occupies in relation to the judge. The chair's review of the withholding request is to be in camera, but disciplinary counsel must advise respondent of the request without disclosing the subject of the request. The hearing panel shall set a date for the exchange of the names and addresses of all witnesses the parties intend to call at the hearing.

B. Other Evidence.Disciplinary counsel and respondent shall exchange:

(1) non-privileged evidence relevant to the formal charges , documents to be presented at the hearing, witness statements, and summaries of interviews with witnesses who will be called at the hearing; and

(2) other material only upon good cause shown to the chair of the hearing panel.

C. Exculpatory Evidence. Disciplinary counsel shall provide respondent with exculpatory evidence relevant to the formal charges.

D. Duty of Supplementation. Both parties have a continuing duty to supplement information required to be exchanged under this Rule.

E. Completion of Discovery. All discovery must be completed within 90 days of filing of the answer.

F. Failure to Disclose. The hearing panel may preclude either party from calling a witness at the hearing if the party has not provided the opposing party with the witness's name and address, any statements taken from the witness, or summaries of any interviews with the witness.

G. Resolution of Disputes. Disputes concerning discovery must be determined by the hearing panel before whom the matter is pending. The decisions of the hearing panel may not be appealed before entry of the final order.

H. Civil Rules Not Applicable. Proceedings under these Rules are not subject to the Rules of Civil Procedure regarding discovery except those rules relating to depositions and subpoenas.