Rule 4-210 Powers and Duties of Special Masters

In accordance with these Rules a duly appointed Special Master shall have the following powers and duties: (a) to exercise general supervision over assigned disciplinary proceedings, including emergency suspension cases as provided in Rule 4-108, and to perform all duties specifically enumerated in these Rules; (b) to rule on all questions concerning the sufficiency of the formal complaint; (c) to encourage negotiations between the State Bar of Georgia and the respondent, whether at a pretrial meeting set by the Special Master or at any other time; (d) to receive and evaluate any Petition for Voluntary Discipline filed after the filing of a formal complaint; (e) to grant continuances and to extend any time limit provided for herein as to any pending matter subject to Rule 4-214 (a); (f) to apply to the Coordinating Special Master for leave to withdraw and for the appointment of a successor in the event that he becomes incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform his duties; (g) to hear, determine and consolidate action on the complaints, where there are multiple complaints against a respondent growing out of different transactions, whether they involve one or more complainants, and to make recommendations on each complaint as constituting a separate offense; (h) to sign subpoenas and to exercise the powers described in Rule 4-221 (c); (i) to preside over evidentiary hearings and to decide questions of law and fact raised during such hearings; (j) to make findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation of discipline as hereinafter provided and to submit his findings for consideration by the Supreme Court of Georgia in accordance with Rule 4-214; (k) to exercise general supervision over discovery by parties to disciplinary proceedings and to conduct such hearings and sign all appropriate pleadings and orders pertaining to such discovery as are provided for by the law of Georgia applicable to discovery in civil cases; and (l) in disciplinary cases, to make a recommendation of discipline, and in emergency suspension cases a recommendation as to whether the respondent should be suspended pending further disciplinary proceedings.