Sec. 2-204. Formal hearing; notice; assignment of case

Formal hearings shall be convened in cases in which conciliation or mediation has failed. After the entry of a finding to that effect or not later than ninety (90) days after the Executive Director determines a violation has occurred, the complaint and any and all findings shall be certified to the Commission. The Chairperson shall cause a written notice to be issued and served in the name of the Commission together with a copy of the complaint, requiring the respondent to answer the charges of the complaint at a public hearing before the Commission at such time and place as may be certified in the notice.

The Chairperson shall thereupon assign the case to be heard before either the full body of Commissioners or a Panel of Commissioners as described in Section 2-189. A transcript of all testimony at the hearing shall be made. The case in support of the complaint shall be presented at the hearing by the Executive Director. No Commissioner who previously made or participated in the investigation or caused the complaint to be filed shall participate in the hearing as a witness, nor shall s/he participate in the deliberations in such case.