Administrative Order on the Initiation of Discovery in Cases Arising Under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and its Extension Acts, Including the Defense Base Act

Administrative Order, 2024-MIS-00001 (Chief ALJ Dec. 5, 2023) (parties in longshore cases should commence formal discovery pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 18.50 after having received notice that the case has been docketed at OALJ based on a Notification of Docket Action generated by the U.S. Department of Labor's eFile/eServe System (EFS) and/or verifying the case has been docketed at OALJ via the Case Status Lookup feature on the OALJ website).

Administrative Order on the Postponement of Certain Proceedings Before OALJ Due to Hurricane Ian - September 30, 2022

Administrative Order, 2022-MIS-00005 (Chief ALJ Sept. 30, 2022) (postponing certain proceedings before OALJ impacted by Hurricane Ian).

Administrative Order Rescinding Prior Postponement Order, 2022-MIS-00005 (Chief ALJ Oct. 28, 2022) (rescinding the September 30, 2022 Administrative Order postponing certain proceedings).

COVID-19 and Hearings - April 29, 2022

Consistent with its phased reentry plan and in light of the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Administrative Law Judges (“OALJ”) will complete reentry to all of our offices on May 2, 2022.  See Administrative Notice, Procedural Notices Related to COVID-19 Pandemic,  2021-MIS-00003 (Chief ALJ Apr. 29, 2022) and COVID-19 and Hearings for updated information.

E-Filing and E-Service at OALJ and BALCA - April 29, 2022

OALJ has consolidated its webpage information on e-filing and e-service.  It has also posted a Memorandum, E-Filing and E-Service at OALJ and BALCA (Apr. 29, 2022), that provides updated information about e-filing and e-service requirements and best practices.  

EFS to Resume E-service of ALJ-issued Documents Using Improved E-mail Notifications - March 14, 2022

In response to user feedback about the way the eFile and eServe system (EFS - efile.dol.gov) was serving ALJ-issued documents, OALJ has been serving ALJ-issued documents on EFS users using the OALJ e-mail system on an interim basis.

Effective Monday, March 14, 2022, EFS will resume serving ALJ-issued documents on EFS users using a much-improved process. OALJ will continue to e-serve those parties who have not registered in EFS.

The specific improvements include:

  • For all e-mail notifications to EFS users, the subject line will now include the case name, case number, and date.
  • For notices, orders, decisions, and other documents issued by the presiding ALJ, the e-mail notice to parties registered in EFS will include the issued document as a PDF attachment, and a link to the document on the EFS case dashboard. The e-mail body text will include additional identifying details about the case, such as names of parties, assigned district office, assigned ALJ, and a list of who was e-served. Similar information will be provided in e-mail notifications about notices of docketing, and status of user access to the case. 
  • For filings by parties, the e-mail will include additional essential details such as filing status, filing party's name, field date, and a list of who was e-served. These enhancements will include notices about receipt of a filing by EFS, when a filing is accepted or not accepted, when the filing is e-served on other EFS users for the case, and administrative notices about case access.

These samples of the new e-mail notifications show the changes to the e-mail subject line and body text.

Administrative Notice Addressing When an E-filing is Made - March 11, 2022

Administrative Notice, 2022-MIS-00002 (Chief ALJ Mar. 11, 2022) (addressing when an e-filing is recorded as filed).

Notice Regarding International Litigation - October 5, 2021

Administrative Notice, 2021-MIS-00006 (Chief ALJ Oct. 5, 2021) (regarding cases involving foreign parties, witnesses, and/or evidence).

Updated Page on Subpoena Requests - October 2021

OALJ has updated the page on Subpoena Requests concerning requests where the claim is still pending before OWCP, and limitations on subpoenas served outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

Temporary Relocation of the Cherry Hill District Office - September 15, 2021

Effective September 15, 2021, the Cherry Hill District Office will be relocated, on a temporary basis, to the following address:

Office of Administrative Law Judges
United States Department of Labor
800 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001-8002

Please note that the main telephone number and the fax number of the Cherry Hill District Office will remain the same.  This temporary relocation will not affect case administration. 

Although the formal address of the Cherry Hill District Office will be in Washington, D.C., the office will be staffed virtually from alternate locations.  Therefore, to ensure that personnel in the Cherry Hill District Office receive filings in a timely manner, it is strongly recommended that filings be submitted by one of the following methods:

When filing a document by email, EFS or fax, DO NOT file a hard (paper) copy as well.  The online or fax filing will be the official filing for the matter.  You can check on whether a filing was received by using the Case Status Lookup.

If you are unable to submit a filing online or by fax, you may mail to the Washington, DC office with ATTN Cherry Hill District Office on the first line:

ATTN Cherry Hill District Office
Office of Administrative Law Judges
United States Department of Labor
800 K Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20001-8002

Please note, however, that hard copy filings may result in delays.