Witnesses

(a) All witnesses shall be sworn. The chairman of the panel shall administer the following oath to all witnesses: "You solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give, concerning the case now in question, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God." When any person, required to take an oath, from scruples of conscience declines to take it in the usual form or when the chairman is satisfied that any person called as a witness does not believe in the existence of a supreme being, a solemn affirmation may be administered to him in the form of the oath prescribed, except that instead of the word "swear" the words "solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare" shall be used and instead of the words "so help you God" the words"upon the pains and penalties of perjury or false statement" shall be used. The parties shall be advised that all sworn testimony is subject to the Connecticut Statutes on perjury. (b) All witnesses called shall be subject to cross examination by the other party's chief spokesperson. (c) The panel members may question witnesses at any point in the hearing. (d) The chairman of the panel shall have the power to require the retirement of any witness or witnesses during the testimony of other witnesses, and a request by either party that a witness or witnesses be so retired may be granted if any possibility exists that denial of such a request could affect the testimony of the witnesses provided the following persons shall not be so retired: (1) Persons who are a direct party in interest; except that if such person is to be a witness, such person shall be first to present testimony; (2) The principal spokesperson for a party; or (3) Persons whose duty it is to assist the principal spokesperson in preparing the case.