Bar Panel to Weigh Fairness Of Decisions by Law Judges
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The New York State Bar Association announced today the creation of a task force to investigate complaints that administrative law judges, who preside over disputes between state agencies and the public, routinely decide in favor of the state. The New York State Bar Association announced today the creation of a task force to investigate complaints that administrative law judges, who preside over disputes between state agencies and the public, routinely decide in favor of the state. ”There’s a feeling that in some of the agencies they are not completely impartial, that they are under some pressure to bring about the result the boss wants,” said the chairman of the panel, referring to the law judges. The chairman, Matthew J. Jasen, is a Buffalo lawyer and former judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. Administrative law judges, or hearing officers, are appointed by state agencies to decide matters ranging from penalties for speeding tickets to welfare eligibility. Only individuals willing to undertake an unusual and costly appeals process have any recourse after a hearing officer rules. Hundreds of Complaints Maryann Saccomando Freedman, the president of the State Bar Association, said she had received hundreds of complaints, principally from lawyers, over the last several years that administrative law judges were biased in favor of the agencies that pay them. More : query.nytimes.com |