Animal Law

ALJs conduct rulemaking and adjudicatory hearings throughout the United States in proceedings subject to the Administrative Procedure Act. Approximately 50 statutes administered by agencies within the Department of Agriculture require APA hearings. The Judges issue initial decisions and orders in adjudicatory proceedings, approve of consent decisions entered into by parties, and decide appeals of debarments and suspensions. ALJ decisions may be appealed to the Office of Judicial Officer (OJO). ALJ decisions are also published in Agriculture Decisions.

(U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Office of the Judicial Officer)
The Judicial Officer hears appeals of ALJ decisions. OJO decisions are not reviewable within USDA, but any litigant in a proceeding may seek judicial review of the Judicial Officer’s decision.

Official publication of decisions and orders issued in adjudicatory proceedings conducted for the Department under various statutes and regulations. Selected court decisions concerning the Department’s regulatory programs are also included. Beginning with Volume 72 (2013), Agriculture Decisions is published exclusively online. Volume 71 (2012) was the publication's final print edition.