(1) Any person designated by the university as an investigator, hearing officer, or Title IX coordinator, or to determine an appeal or facilitate an informal resolution process shall self-recuse if this person discovers a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent or otherwise cannot act impartially.
(2) A party shall promptly petition for the disqualification of an individual described in subsection (1) of this section upon receiving notice of a formal complaint or upon discovering facts establishing grounds for disqualification. Such petition must be in writing and delivered to the person whose disqualification is requested, with copies of the petition delivered simultaneously to other known parties and any person known to be designated by the university as an investigator, hearing officer, or Title IX coordinator, or to determine an appeal or facilitate an informal resolution process.
(3) The individual whose disqualification is requested shall determine whether to grant the petition, stating facts and reasons for the determination. If the individual whose disqualification is requested does not self-disqualify, the party may cite such failure for disqualification as a reason to appeal a dismissal or determination of responsibility. If the individual whose disqualification is requested self-disqualifies, an appropriate individual will be substituted for the disqualified individual's role in the investigation, hearing, appeal, or informal resolution process.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
28B.20.130 and 34 C.F.R. Part 106. WSR 21-07-047, § 478-121-680, filed 3/11/21, effective 4/11/21.]