HEARINGS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
If your offices are closed, will I still have my hearing?
Yes. At this time, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are only able to conduct hearings by telephone until we resume our standard operations. Our hearing office staff will contact you or your representative in advance of your scheduled hearing to confirm your availability for a telephone hearing and ensure we have your accurate contact information.
Am I required to have my hearing by telephone?
No. Telephone hearings are not mandatory. When our hearing office staff contacts you or your representative in advance of the hearing, you may ask us to postpone your hearing until we resume standard operations and can hold your hearing in the manner you were originally scheduled (i.e. in person or by video). When we reschedule your hearing, we will send a notice giving you the new date, time and place of your hearing. We will send this notice at least 20 days before the date of the new hearing.
Will I still have my hearing with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who was assigned to my case?
Generally, yes. Our ALJs are available to hold telephone hearings. In the event a technical difficulty arises before your hearing and we need to reassign your case to another ALJ, we will follow our typical instructions on backfilling, which are available in HALLEX I-2-1-55F.
