Pa. Disciplinary Bd. R. 93.106

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General rule. Enforcement Rule 402(f) provides that the Board may, upon application of any person and for good cause shown, issue a protective order prohibiting the disclosure of specific information otherwise privileged or confidential, and the Board may direct that proceedings be conducted so as to implement the order, including requiring that a hearing be conducted in such a way as to preserve the confidentiality of the information that is the subject of a protective order.

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Applications at conferences and hearings. Upon application of any person during a conference or hearing under Chapter 89 Subchapter C (relating to hearing procedures) and for good cause shown, the senior or experienced hearing committee member conducting the conference or the hearing committee or special master conducting the hearing may issue a protective order prohibiting the disclosure of specific information otherwise privileged or confidential, and may direct that a hearing be conducted in such a way as to preserve the confidentiality of the information that is the subject of the protective order. Upon the submission of an application for a protective order, the conference or hearing shall be recessed for the conduct of an in camera meeting of the parties with the hearing committee member, hearing committee or special master for consideration of the application. The ruling on the application for a protective order may be appealed to the Board. An appeal to the Board may stay the conduct of hearings in the matter at the discretion of the hearing committee.

Note: A party seeking a protective order is encouraged to apply for the order at the prehearing conference to allow time for a potential appeal to the Board.