Background

This transmittal amends section I-2-1-55 of the Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law (HALLEX) manual to update instructions for case reassignment.

Explanation of Content and Changes

I-2-1-55 – We amended subsection B to clarify that the Regional Chief Administrative Law Judge determines whether the areas within a hearing office's (HO) service area are assigned to the HO or are assigned to the remote hearing site(s). In sub-subsection C.2., we explained that if a remote site has video teleconferencing (VTC) availability, administrative law judges (ALJ) are encouraged to hold hearings by VTC instead of traveling to the remote site. We retitled subsection F “Reassignment of a Case” and established procedures for case reassignment before and after a hearing has been held. We added language to emphasize OHO's responsibility to provide for the prompt and orderly dispatch of public service. We also incorporated the information previously in HALLEX I-2-8-40 B to provide guidance for when the Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge, or other management ALJ, reassigns a case to a different ALJ after a hearing has been held.

Date: April 9, 2019