State of Maryland

An Administrative Law Judge is the advanced level of professional work for the Office of Administrative Hearings conducting formal contested case administrative hearings and preparing recommended or final decisions. Employees in this classification may serve as a liaison between the Office of Administrative Hearings and one or more of the State’s executive agencies. Employees in this classification may serve as a team leader or as a Subject Matter Expert, reviewing decisions of other Administrative Law Judges. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions but may provide advice and guidance to lower-level Administrative Law Judges and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision and direction from the Chief Administrative Law Judge or other higher-level administrator. The work may require travel to local or regional offices of various State agencies.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

The Administrative Law Judge is differentiated from the Chief Administrative Law Judge in that the Administrative Law Judge performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the Chief Administrative Law Judge performs the lead level of work at the agency.

Schedules conferences, status conferences, motions hearings and other proceedings in accordance with the requirements of State law and departmental regulations;

Receives and evaluates appeals and request for administrative hearings;

Acts as a presiding officer at complex contested case administrative hearings, such as cases involving Motor Vehicle Administration, involuntary admission to institutions, professional licensing and mining and water management permits and enforcement;

Analyzes the facts presented relative to the applicable statutes, regulations, policies and precedents;

Performs research in preparation for the administrative hearings;

Issues pre-hearing orders, subpoenas, administers oaths, examines witnesses and receives documentary evidence;

Instructs the parties of their rights;

Hears argument and permits the filing of legal briefs, proposed findings of fact and proposed conclusions of law;

Rules on objections, motions and the admissibility of evidence;

Considers and rules on motions to compel discovery, motions for protection from discovery and appropriate sanctions;

Conducts pre-hearing conferences to limit issues, combine parties and representation, accept stipulations, determine order of presentation and to address other aspects of the hearing;

Issues prehearing orders, scheduling orders, discovery orders and other orders to govern the conduct of the hearing;

Determines the credibility of witnesses and evidence introduced at the hearing;

Directs the qualification of medical or scientific expert witnesses;

Exercises independent judgment in determining proposed or final findings of fact and conclusions of law;

Determines or recommends the proposed or final decisions in cases;

Drafts proposed or final findings of fact and conclusions of law;

Conducts pre-hearing conferences to limit and clarify issues, evidentiary disputes, combine parties and representation, accept stipulations, determine order of presentation and to address other aspects of the hearing;

Requires compliance of out-of-state attorneys with Rule 20(c) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar;

May review proposed legislation and regulations for procedural sufficiency and for fiscal impact on the Office of Administrative Hearings;

May serve as principal contact with one or more executive agencies;

May serve as the leader of a team of Administrative Law Judges for a specific area or purpose;

Performs other related duties.