SEC Approves FINRA's Tightening of "Public Arbitrator" Definition

The SEC approved a FINRA proposed rule change to amend the definition of "public arbitrator" in its Customer and Industry Codes of Arbitration.  Specifically, the proposed rule change would (a) exclude persons associated with a mutual fund or hedge fund from serving as public arbitrators and (b) require individuals to wait for two years after ending certain affiliations before they may be permitted to serve as public arbitrators.   This amendment is another tightening of the definition of "public arbitrator" to exclude individuals with close ties to the securities industry.  SEC, Release No. 34-69297; File No. SR-FINRA-2013-003, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Order Approving Proposed Rule Change to Amend the Customer and Industry Codes of Arbitration Procedure to
Revise the Public Arbitrator Definition (Apr. 4, 2013)