OAR 438-006-0095: Change of Administrative Law Judge

(1) Except as provided in section (4) of this rule, an Administrative Law Judge shall disqualify themselves from a proceeding in which the Administrative Law Judge’s impartiality reasonably may be questioned, including, but not limited to, instances when: (a) The Administrative Law Judge has a bias or prejudice concerning a party, a representative, or any other participant in the proceeding before the Administrative Law Judge, or has knowledge, obtained from sources outside the proceeding, of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding; (b) The Administrative Law Judge served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom the Administrative Law Judge previously was associated served during the period of association as a lawyer in the matter, or the Administrative Law Judge or the lawyer has been a material witness in the matter; (c) The Administrative Law Judge knows that the Administrative Law Judge, individually or as a fiduciary, or the Administrative Law Judge’s spouse, parent or child, wherever residing, or any other person residing in the Administrative Law Judge’s household has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy, is a party to the proceeding or has any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding; (d) The Administrative Law Judge, the Administrative Law Judge's spouse, parent or child, wherever residing, or any other person residing in the Administrative Law Judge's household: (A) Is a party to the proceeding, or an officer, director, partner or trustee of a party; (B) Is acting as a lawyer in the proceeding; or (C) Is, to the Administrative Law Judge's knowledge, likely to be a material witness in the proceeding. (2) When an Administrative Law Judge disqualifies themself from a proceeding under this rule, the Administrative Law Judge is not required to disclose the reason or reasons for the disqualification except as required by law. (3) For purposes of this rule: (a) “Fiduciary” includes relationships such as personal representative, trustee, conservator and guardian; (b) “Financial interest” means ownership of a legal or equitable interest, however small, or a relationship as director, advisor or other active participant in the affairs of a party, except that: (A) Ownership in a mutual or common investment fund that owns securities is not a “financial interest” unless the Administrative Law Judge participates in the management of the fund; (B) Holding an office in an educational, religious, charitable, fraternal or civic organization is not a “financial interest” in property of the organization; (C) The proprietary interest of a policy holder in a mutual insurance company, a depositor in mutual savings association, or a similar proprietary interest is a “financial interest” in the organization only if the outcome of the proceeding could substantially affect the value of the interest; and (D) Ownership of government securities is a “financial interest” in the issuer only if the outcome of the proceeding could substantially affect the value of the securities. (4) An Administrative Law Judge who would be disqualified under this rule may, rather than disqualify themself from the proceeding, disclose to the parties the basis of the disqualification. If, after such disclosure, any party wishes the Administrative Law Judge to disqualify themself from the proceeding, the Administrative Law Judge shall do so. If, after such disclosure, the parties all agree in writing or on the record that the Administrative Law Judge's impartiality is not in question because of the information disclosed to the parties, the Administrative Law Judge may participate in the proceeding. Any writing signed by or on behalf of all parties shall be incorporated into the record of the proceeding, or, in the case of a mediation, made part of the Administrative Law Judge's mediation file. (5) Immediately upon discovering the asserted basis, any party may request that an Administrative Law Judge disqualify themself from a proceeding on any basis set forth in section (1) of this rule. If the Administrative Law Judge does not then disqualify themself, any party may promptly file a request for disqualification of the Administrative Law Judge with the Presiding Administrative Law Judge. Such a request shall include an affidavit setting out, in detail, the basis for the requested disqualification. (6) Following review of the request for disqualification and accompanying affidavit, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge will determine, in their discretion, whether a hearing on the allegations in the affidavit shall be held. Following such a hearing or following the Presiding Administrative Law Judge's determination that a hearing will not be held, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge shall issue a written decision concerning the disqualification request. If the Presiding Administrative Law Judge determines that the Administrative Law Judge should be disqualified, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge shall so state and explain the basis for the decision, and shall assign another Administrative Law Judge to the case. If the Presiding Administrative Law Judge determines that the Administrative Law Judge should not be disqualified, the Presiding Administrative Law Judge shall so state and explain the basis for the decision, and the case shall proceed with the Administrative Law Judge.