Section 125.135  Pre-hearing Conferences

a)         Upon notice by the Hearing Examiner in any proceeding or upon request by any party, the Hearing Examiner may direct parties or their attorneys to appear at a specified time and place for a conference, either during or prior to any hearing, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned.  The purposes for such conferences shall include:

1)         the formulation and simplification of issues;

2)         the necessity or desirability of amending the pleadings for the purpose of clarification, amplification or limitation;

3)         the possibility of stipulations concerning the admissibility of evidence;

4)         the limitations of the number of witnesses;

5)         the propriety of prior mutual exchange between or among the parties of prepared testimony and exhibits; and

6)         such other matters as may aid in the simplification of the evidence and disposition of the proceeding.

b)         In exercising such discretion, the Hearing Examiner shall give due consideration to the time requirements of Section 9-21 of the Election Code.