Originally posted on 1/21/2021 (reformatted).

On December 2, 2020, the Young Lawyers Section co-sponsored a Zoom-based webinar with the Administrative and Regulatory Law Section on presenting cases before administrative law judges. The event featured the Director of the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR), Suzanne Sonneborn as well as three administrative law judges: Adam Purnell from MOAHR’s General Adjudication area, Corey Arendt from MOAHR’s Benefits Services area, and Raman Buttar from MOAHR’s Unemployment Appeals area. Over 150 attorneys from private practice, government, and academia attended the event.

The topics of discussion were as diverse as the practice of administrative law itself and covered everything from pre-hearing conferences, the relaxed rules of evidence, to the recent challenges presented by conducting remote hearings. Throughout the presentation all the presenters stressed the importance of maintaining civility and collegiality even while zealously representing a client’s interest. Given the large array of topics covered in administrative hearings, the presenters also stressed to the participants the importance of knowing the controlling statutes and the differing procedural rules. They also emphasized to participants, the importance of knowing for their case, who would be the final decision maker. While in some instances ALJs can be the final decision maker, in many cases this authority rests with the head of a government agency or a separate board or commission who simply reviews the ALJs decision as a recommendation.

Overall, the event provided attendees with valuable insight into what administrative law judges look for in managing their cases and making their decisions. All three of the administrative law judges who participated in the event brought an incredible depth of knowledge and experience. Given the success of the event, it is definitely something the organizers hope to repeat in future years.

Dustin Kamerman

State of Michigan, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Okemos