405 Ind. Admin. Code 1.1-1-4

Current through December 12, 2024

Section 405 IAC 1.1-1-4 - Conduct and authority of administrative law judge

Authority: IC 12-15-1-10

Affected: IC 12-15-28

Sec. 4.

(a) An administrative law judge's (ALJ) conduct shall be in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the administrative hearing process. The ALJ who conducts a hearing is prohibited from:

(1) consulting any party or party's agent on any fact in issue unless upon notice and opportunity for all parties to participate;

(2) performing any of the investigative or prosecutorial functions of the agency in the administrative action heard or to be heard by him or her or in a factually related administrative or judicial action;

(3) being influenced by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism;

(4) conveying or permitting others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the ALJ;

(5) commenting publicly, except as to hearing schedules or procedures, about pending or impending proceedings; or

(6) engaging in financial or business dealings that tend to:

(A) reflect adversely on his or her impartiality;

(B) interfere with the proper performance of his or her duties;

(C) exploit the ALJ's position; or

(D) involve the ALJ in frequent financial business dealings with attorneys or other persons who are likely to come before the ALJ.

(b) An ALJ shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which his or her impartiality might reasonably be questioned, or in which the ALJ's personal bias, prejudice, or knowledge of a disputed evidentiary fact might influence the decision. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a person who is an employee of an agency from serving as an ALJ.

(c) The ALJ shall be authorized to:

(1) administer oaths and affirmations;

(2) issue subpoenas;

(3) rule upon offers of proof;

(4) receive relevant evidence;

(5) facilitate discovery in accordance with the Indiana rules of trial procedure;

(6) regulate the course of the hearing and conduct of the parties;

(7) hold informal conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues under appeal;

(8) dispose of procedural motions and similar matters; and

(9) exercise such other powers as may be given by the law relating to the Medicaid program.

405 IAC 1.1-1-4

Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services; 405 IAC 1.1-1-4; filed Jul 18, 1996, 3:00 p.m.: 19 IR 3378; readopted filed Jun 27, 2001, 9:40 a.m.: 24 IR 3822; readopted filed Sep 19, 2007, 12:16 p.m.: 20071010-IR-405070311RFA; readopted filed Oct 28, 2013, 3:18 p.m.: 20131127-IR-405130241RFA

Readopted filed 11/13/2019, 11:54 a.m.: 20191211-IR-405190487RFA