Administrative Law Judges

Administrative Law Judges in the United States

According to the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy (Third Edition, Domonic A. Bearfield Melvin J. Dubnick, CRC Press 2015), they “preside over quasi-judicial hearings in executive branch agencies. These hearings are an important part of state and federal benefits programs and regulatory enforcement efforts, and are required when the government threatens to impose a fine or withhold a constitutionally protected benefit. They occur because the constitutional notion of due process requires a hearing in front of an unbiased decision-maker before the government can take a person’s property. Although usually less formal that a courtroom trial, agency hearings may involve the introduction of evidence, witness testimony, cross-examination, and the issuance of a written decision by the administrative law judge. There are currently 1690 Administrative Law Judges serving in 23 federal agencies. All (U.S.) 50 states employ Administrative Law Judges of their own, and 24 states house at least some of their Administrative Law Judges in independent central panel agencies.”

Literature Review on Administrative Law Judges and Agency Adjudication

In the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, [1] William D. Schreckhise offers the following summary about the topic of Administrative Law Judges and Agency Adjudication: Administrative law judges (ALJs) preside over quasi-judicial hearings in executive branch agencies. These hearings are an important part of state and federal benefits programs and regulatory enforcement efforts, and are required when the government threatens to impose a fine or withhold a constitutionally protected benefit. They occur because the constitutional notion of due process requires a hearing in front of an unbiased decision-maker before the government can take a person's property. Although usually less formal that a courtroom trial, agency hearings may involve the introduction of evidence, witness testimony, cross-examination, and the issuance of a written decision by the administrative law judge. There are currently 1690 ALJs serving in 23 federal agencies. All 50 states employ ALJs of their own, and 24 states house at least some of their ALJs in independent central panel agencies.

Resources

Notes and References

Entry about Administrative Law Judges and Agency Adjudication in the Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy (2015, Routledge, Oxford, United Kingdom)

Administrative Law Judges

Administrative Law Judges