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 disciplinary proceedings assigned to him and to perform all duties specifically enumerated in these Rules;

(b) to pass on all questions concerning the sufficiency of the formal complaint;

(c) to conduct the 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;

(e) to grant continuances and to extend any time limit provided for herein as to any matter pending before him;

(f) to apply to the Supreme Court of Georgia for an order naming his successor in the event that he becomes incapacitated to perform his duties or in the event that he learns that he and the respondent reside in the same circuit;

(g) to defer action on any complaint pending before him when he learns of the docketing of another complaint against the same respondent and believes that the new complaint will be assigned to him by the Supreme Court;

(h) to hear and determine action on the complaints, where there are multiple complaints against a respondent growing out of different transactions, whether they involve one or more complainants, as separate counts, and may proceed to make recommendations on each count as constituting a separate offense;

(i) to sign subpoenas and exercise the powers described in Rule 4-221(b);

(j) to preside over evidentiary hearings and to decide questions of law and fact raised during such hearings;

(k) to make findings of fact and conclusions of law as hereinafter provided and to submit his findings for consideration by the Review Panel;

(l) 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.