Administrative Law Outline

 
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
ED FELTER
SPRING 2014
 
 
I.                   ADMINISTRATIVE LAW PRINCIPALS
a.      Federalism
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
STATE GOVERNMENTS
Federal APA
State APA
Federal ALJ’s and AJ’s (within the agencies)
Central Panels of ALJs or hearings officers
Assurances of Independence from Agencies
Hearings officers within the agencies/Independence
b.      Why Admin. Tribunals?
                                   i.      Insulates government officials from resolving individual disputes
                                 ii.      Expertise/Specialized
                               iii.      Flexible/Efficient w/out sacrificing due process of law
                               iv.      Frees up time of gov. agencies and officials (to deal w/policy instead of individual disputes)
                                 v.      Cost effective
                               vi.      Not as monumental task as it may seem—a different approach
                             vii.      Not a substitute for courts transparency and due processes at admin level
                           viii.      Public confidence in fairness/Independence
c.       Structure:
                                   i.      Agency not only has authority, but affirmative responsibility to administer, enforce and execute its organic legislation. Agency must interpret any vague or imprecise language to:
1.      Identify scope of its authority
2.      Determine exact meaning to be given to imprecise language
3.      Identify specific legislative goals to be achieved and
4.      Identify exact methods authorizes to use to achieve desired results
d.      Delegation:
                                   i.      Legislative body has vested an admin agency power to determine individual rights and responsibilities by deciding specific cases, agency exercise a portion of power of judicial branch
e.       Sources of Admin Law Research:
                                   i.      Organic legislation establishing agency
                                 ii.      Relevant portions of the APA
                               iii.      Other legislation generally applicable to the agency
                               iv.      Agency rules: Substantive, interpretive guidance documents, bulletins
                                 v.      Constitutional requirement
                               vi.      Agency adjudication decisions
                             vii.      Court decisions relevant to agency
 
II.                AGENCY EXERCISE OF POWER (INVOLVEMENT OF COURTS, SCOPE OF JUDICIAL REVIEW
a.      Agency must take Action to Implement the Legislatively Mandated Program:
                                   i.      Executive power:
1.      Announce program policies
2.      Interpret legislative provisions (statutes)
3.      Advise those subject to its authority (bulletins)
4.      Prosecute through the Atty general those in violation of program requirements
                                 ii.      Legislative :
1.      Agency may promulgate substantive rules that have the force of law
                               iii.      Judicial:
1.      Agency may adjudicate specific disputes arising out of course of administration
b.      Heckler v. Chaney:
                                   i.      Condemned prisoners complained to FDA drugs to be used in executing them not approved
                                 ii.      SC= agency’s decision not to take enforcement action is, absent some statutory dictate to the contrary, presumed to be immune from judicial review under the APA provision precluding review when action is “committed to agency discretion by law.”
c.       Moog Indus.:
                                   i.      SC held, absent express congressional directive to selective enforcement, agency’s decision to seek relief against one party and not another falls w/in agency’s discretion.
d.      Webster v. Doe:
                                   i.      CIA fired gay employee. Completely up to director’s discretion “deem such termination necessary or advisable in interest of U.S.”
1.      Relied on Overton Park and Chaney—beyond judicial review
e.       FCC v. Allentown:
                                   i.      2 radio stations and FCC only granted one application b/c of electrical interference
                                 ii.      Allentown had greater need for service—serious reliability about Easton’s application b/c of principle witnesses. Internal review—FCC disagreed w/examiner & awarded permit to Easton, increasing choice of local market was more important
                               iii.      SC= “choice of local service” policy overrode examiner’s cred. Determination. FCC has authority to disagree w/it’s hearings examiner’s fact-findings.
f.       Fed. APA does NOT provide method of agency review of ALJ Initial Decisions:
                                   i.      Found in agency organic act or agency rules
                                 ii.      Example: OSHA has discretion to review ALJ initial decision, ordinarily, if a party files a petition for review w/Comission
g.      General Federal Question Jurisdiction:
                                   i.      Fed. Agency action invariably involves a fed. Question
                                 ii.      Citizen may not be able to invoke general fed. Question jurisdiction when agency statute provides comprehensive remedy and it would be inconsistent w/specific remedial scheme est. by agency statute
h.      Subject Matter Jurisdiction of Fed. And State Court Judicial Review:
                                   i.      Based exclusively on legislation. Those seeking jud. Review must identify legislation (APA/organic act) that confers jurisdiction where review sought
                                 ii.      CO= judicial review in DC may be sought w/in 30 days unless directed to COA (organic act)
                               iii.      DORA licensing board judicial review goes to COA (ICAO Industrial Claim Appeals Office)
                               iv.      Human Services and HCPF judicial review goes to DC (generally in Denver)
                                 v.      Federal Level= generally goes to COA (fact finding usually accomplished at DC is done by agency proceedings)
                               vi.      Citizens may file suit directly in the courts to enforce provisions of an act. Not judicial review if it is separate and distinct from administrative law track.
i.        Judicial Review of Agency Actions:
                                   i.      Who does US Constitution Protect?
1.      Bill of rights speaks of “persons” not “citizens”
2.      No de novo review—undermines agency concept
                                 ii.      Must identify legislation that confers jurisdiction to appropriate court
1.      Fed Level= based on agency statute
2.      State Level= based exclusively on statute
a.       Upon showing irreparable injury, any court of competent jurisdiction may enjoin at any time the conduct of any agency proceeding
b.      Otherwise “FAA” subject to judicial review after exhaustion.
 
 
 
 
 
 
III.             RULEMAKING
LEGISLATIVE RULE
INTERPRETATIVE
Based on delegated legislative power
Based on executive power
Prescribes
Describes
Implements statute
Guidance to public/not legally binding
Creates a new legal right, obligation or duty
States a construction, clarification or explanation of an existing right or duty
Has the force and effect of law
Reminds or advises of existing duties
                                   i.      James v. Director of Motor Vehicles:
1.      Facts:
a.       Director revoked motor vehicle operator’s permit of guy on ground he was “morally unfit” to operate b/c he had past convictions.
2.      Holding:
a.       “moral unfitness” must have some direct relationship to the qualifications of an individual to drive a car. Law too broad and unequal to be upheld in absence of clearer delegatio