The Office of Administrative Law Judges issued a new Administrative Order on September 11, 2017. The Order states:
Case No. 2017-MIS-00007
In the Matter of:
POSTPONEMENT OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, SCHEDULED FOR THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 2017
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER
Hurricane Irma has forced the extended evacuation of much of the State of Florida. In consideration of the extraordinary circumstances occasioned by this natural disaster, IT IS ORDERED that:
All OALJ proceedings, including formal hearings, oral arguments, mediations, and pre-hearing conferences, scheduled to take place within the State of Florida up to and including October 6, 2017 are POSTPONED until further notice. All associated hearing related deadlines, such as pre-hearing exchanges, discovery deadlines, post-hearing briefs and similar matters, are TOLLED until subsequent order.
All OALJ proceedings, including formal hearings, oral arguments, mediations, and pre-hearing conferences, involving any attorney or law firm located in the State of Florida scheduled to take place up to and including October 6, 2017 are POSTPONED until further notice. All associated hearing related deadlines, such as pre-hearing exchanges, discovery deadlines, post-hearing briefs and similar matters, are TOLLED until subsequent order.
Any other attorneys or parties with cases pending before the Office of Administrative Law Judges that may be affected by Hurricane Irma should contact the district office of the Office of Administrative Law Judges at which the case has been assigned to reschedule hearings or otherwise modify existing deadlines. For unassigned cases, please contact the National office of the Office of Administrative Law Judges. Contact information is found at www.oalj.dol.gov/DISTRICT_OFFICES_INDEX.HTM.
SO ORDERED.
STEPHEN R. HENLEY
Chief Administrative Law Judge
Again, just like with the Administrative Order issued after Hurricane Harvey, this is the right move. Take it from someone who lived through Hurricane Katrina: the delay is necessary and patently reasonable.
Attribution: Photo from Wikipedia’s Hurricane Irma page.
