Print

Rules of Conduct

In November 2005, New Yorkers voted by referendum to implement Rules of Conduct for New York City administrative law judges (ALJs). In February 2007, under the auspices of the Deputy Mayor for Legal Affairs, the City adopted the Rules of Conduct for administrative law judges and hearing officers for the City of New York. The Rules of Conduct are based on the Code of Judicial Conduct for New York State judges. However, the City's Rules are adapted in recognition of the unique position of administrative law judges who, unlike other state court judges, may be hired on a part-time per-diem basis and are often employees of another City agency. But, while some City administrative law judges may work part-time and others full-time, and some have greater autonomy in deciding cases than others, the Rules of Conduct hold all the City's administrative law judges and hearing officers accountable for conducting fair and impartial hearings. If an administrative law judge has violated the Rules of Conduct, his or her behavior is subject to review by the Administrative Justice Coordinator and the Chief ALJ of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, as well as the tribunal where the ALJ is employed.