(220 ILCS 5/2-106) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 2-106)
Sec. 2-106.
(a) The executive director shall employ administrative law judges to
make valuations of public utility properties, or to estimate proper rates of
service of public utilities, or to examine other questions coming before
the Commission, by taking testimony or by independent investigation.
The executive director shall designate one administrative law judge to serve as
chief administrative law judge who shall be responsible for supervising and
directing the activities of all administrative law judges, subject to the approval
of the executive director. Administrative law judges shall, under the direction of
the chief administrative law judge, take testimony of witnesses, examine accounts,
records, books, papers and physical properties, either by holding hearings
or making independent investigations, in any matter referred to them by the
chief administrative law judge; and make report thereof to the chief administrative law judge,
and attend at hearings before the Commission when so directed by the chief administrative law judge, for the purpose of explaining their investigations and
the result thereof to the Commission and the parties interested; and
perform such other duties as the chief administrative law judge may direct.
(b) All administrative law judges employed by the Commission shall be thoroughly
familiar with applicable rules of evidence, procedure and administrative
law. At least every two years after an administrative law judge is employed by the
Commission, the executive director and chief administrative law judge shall review
the performance of such administrative law judge based on whether the administrative law judge:
(i) is, and is perceived to be, fair to all parties;
(ii) has a judicious and considerate temperament;
(iii) is capable of comprehending and properly |