---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 C.F.R. § 1.320"
title: "7"
number: "1.320"
heading: "Prehearing conferences."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/1.320"
---

# §1.320. Prehearing conferences.

- (a) The ALJ may schedule a prehearing conference at a reasonable time in advance of the hearing and may schedule additional prehearing conferences as appropriate.
- (b) The ALJ may conduct any prehearing conference in person or by telephone.
- (c) The ALJ may use prehearing conferences to discuss the following matters:
  - (1) Simplification of the issues;
  - (2) The necessity or desirability of amendments to the pleadings, including the need for a more definite statement;
  - (3) Stipulations, admissions of fact or as to the contents and authenticity of documents;
  - (4) Whether the parties can agree to submission of the case on a stipulated record;
  - (5) Whether a party chooses to waive appearance at an oral hearing and to submit only documentary evidence (subject to the objection of other parties) and written argument.
  - (6) Limitation of the number of witnesses;
  - (7) Scheduling dates for the exchange of witness lists and of proposed exhibits;
  - (8) Discovery;
  - (9) The time and place for the hearing; and
  - (10) Such other matters as may tend to expedite the fair and just disposition of the proceedings.
- (d) The ALJ shall issue an order containing all matters agreed upon by the parties or ordered by the ALJ at a prehearing conference.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3801-3812.

### Source

Source: 56 FR 9582, Mar. 7, 1991, unless otherwise noted. Correctly designated at 57 FR 3909, Feb. 3, 1992.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, unless otherwise noted.