42 CFR §3.538
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, testimony at the hearing must be given orally by witnesses under oath or affirmation.
- (b)At the discretion of the ALJ, testimony of witnesses other than the testimony of expert witnesses may be admitted in the form of a written statement. The ALJ may, at his or her discretion, admit prior sworn testimony of experts that has been subject to adverse examination, such as a deposition or trial testimony. Any such written statement must be provided to the other party, along with the last known address of the witness, in a manner that allows sufficient time for the other party to subpoena the witness for cross-examination at the hearing. Prior written statements of witnesses proposed to testify at the hearing must be exchanged as provided in § 3.518.
- (c)The ALJ must exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to:
- (d)The ALJ must permit the parties to conduct cross-examination of witnesses as may be required for a full and true disclosure of the facts.
- (e)The ALJ may order witnesses excluded so that they cannot hear the testimony of other witnesses, except that the ALJ may not order to be excluded—
- (1)A party who is a natural person;
- (2)In the case of a party that is not a natural person, the officer or employee of the party appearing for the entity pro se or designated as the party's representative; or
- (3)A natural person whose presence is shown by a party to be essential to the presentation of its case, including a person engaged in assisting the attorney for the Secretary.