Administrative Law System Improvements
What is Administrative Law?
Administrative law involves the legal processes and decisions related to the regulations and operations of government agencies. Although administrative law may not get as much attention as other court cases, these matters are very common and have significant impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. These can include disputes and hearings about various issues like housing, employment, education, health, and business regulations. In D.C., a significant – and growing – number of administrative law cases are heard at the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
How CCE is Helping
Effective administration of justice ensures that individuals and businesses receive fair and timely decisions in all matters, including administrative law cases. We have been at the forefront of administrative justice support and reform in D.C. Here’s how our work has made a significant impact:
- Establishing OAH: In 2002, following CCE’s comprehensive examination of the District’s handling of administrative hearings, we recommended consolidating the hearing offices of more than 20 agencies into a single entity. This led to the establishment of OAH, streamlining the process and improving efficiency for court users.
- Evaluating and Improving OAH: In 2016, CCE conducted a thorough review of OAH's performance and published the report, Administrative Justice in the District of Columbia: Recommendations to Improve DC's Office of Administrative Hearings. This report provided actionable recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of OAH.
- Ongoing Advocacy: CCE continues to be actively involved in monitoring challenges and advocating for improvements in the administrative justice system. We work to ensure that individuals and businesses in the District receive fair and prompt decisions on matters involving D.C. agencies.
Technology, Transparency, and Self-Help Resources
CCE continues to support the work that OAH and the D.C. Council are doing to implement reforms and address emerging challenges. We regularly provide testimony to the D.C. Council highlighting progress made and opportunities for additional work and investments in our administrative court. In 2022, our advocacy helped secure funding for the development of a public portal for OAH decisions, a full-time employee in its Resource Center to help unrepresented litigants, and a benchmark study on its operations. We also continue to call on Council to secure OAH’s authority over relevant agency decisions to ensure independence. We also demand more investment in the OAH Resource Center, recognizing that many people do not have a lawyer, and may have literacy issues, cognitive issues, and mental impairments and need help navigating the court’s processes and rules.