Isn there a problem with coauthors and coworkers being assigned as IDRs on panels?
While this might appear to be a conflict of interest, the real concern is the IDR’s ability to be objective during factfinding and reporting to the panel. Chairs are responsible for making IDR assignments among their panelists. Chairs routinely ask if a panelist has any relation to the cases under review which might impede objectivity. This information is weighed along with other considerations in achieving balanced IDR workload distribution among assigned panelists.
