OAR 137-003-0630: Motions

(1) A request for any order or other relief may be made by filing a motion in writing. The motion need not be in any particular form. (2) Before filing any motion, the moving party or agency should make a good faith effort to confer with any non-moving party or agency regarding the order or relief sought to seek agreement about the subject of the motion. The moving party or agency need not make an effort to confer if efforts to confer would pose a risk to any person or would be futile. Any motion must describe the effort to confer and the result of the effort, or explain why the moving party or agency made no effort to confer with the non-moving party or agency. (3) Unless otherwise provided by statute or rule, all motions shall be filed in writing at least 14 calendar days before the date set for the hearing and a copy provided to the parties and to the agency in the manner required by OAR 137-003-0520 except: (a) Motions seeking to intervene or to be granted party status under OAR 137-003-0535, (b) Motions made in a pre-hearing conference, (c) Motions for a ruling on legal issues under OAR 137-003-0580; and (d) Motions to continue a scheduled conference or hearing, (e) Motions to quash a subpoena under OAR 137-003-0585 when the subpoena is served less than 14 days before the date set for the hearing. (4) The agency or a party may file a response to a motion. (a) Responses to motions filed 14 or more calendar days before the date of the hearing shall be in writing with service to the parties and to the agency in the manner required by OAR 137-003-0520 and shall be filed and served within seven calendar days after receipt of the motion. (b) Responses to motions filed fewer than 14 calendar days before the date of the hearing may be in writing or presented orally at the hearing. If the response is in writing, the response must be filed and served on the parties or the agency in the manner required by OAR 137-003-0520 before the start of the hearing. (5) Responses to late-filed motions may be presented orally or in writing at the contested case hearing. (6) At the request of a party or the agency, or on the administrative law judge's own motion, the administrative law judge may establish longer or shorter periods than those under sections (2) and (3) of this rule for the filing of motions and responses. The administrative law judge may also consider motions presented orally at the contested case hearing. In exercising discretion under this subsection, the administrative law judge shall consider the duty to ensure a full and fair inquiry into the facts and the likelihood of undue delay or unfair prejudice. (7) The mere filing or pendency of a motion, even if uncontested, does not alter or extend any time limit or deadline established by statute, rule or order. (8) The administrative law judge shall rule on all motions on the record before issuance of a proposed order or in the proposed order or, if the administrative law judge has authority to issue a final order without first issuing a proposed order, in the final order.