(a) Appointment. The judge may on the judge's own motion or on the
motion of any party enter an order to show cause why expert witnesses
should not be appointed, and may request the parties to submit
nominations. The judge may appoint any expert witnesses agreed upon by
the parties, and may appoint expert witnesses of the judge's own
selection. An expert witness shall not be appointed by the judge unless
the witness consents to
act. A witness so appointed shall be informed of the witness' duties by
the judge in writing, a copy of which shall be filed with the clerk, or
at a conference in which the parties shall have an opportunity to
participate. A witness so appointed shall advise the parties of the
witness' findings, if any; the witness' deposition may be taken by any
party; and the witness may be called to testify by the judge or any
party. The witness shall be subject to cross-examination by each party,
including a party calling the witness.
(b) Compensation. Expert witnesses so appointed are entitled to
reasonable compensation in whatever sum the judge may allow. The
compensation thus fixed is payable from funds which may be provided by
law in hearings involving just compensation under the fifth amendment.
In other hearings the compensation shall be paid by the parties in such
proportion and at such time as the judge directs, and thereafter charged
in like manner as other costs.
(c) Parties' experts of own selection. Nothing in this rule limits
the parties in calling expert witnesses of their own selection.
