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Jeffie Massey News

16 Jun 2009

GAO Says Mariner Rights Protected in Law Hearings

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report Friday detailing its findings following a review of the Coast Guard's Administrative Law Judge Program that was requested by Congress and welcomed by the Coast Guard. The GAO conducted an independent and objective review of 1,675 suspension and revocation cases opened and closed by the Coast Guard from Nov. 10, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2008. •    Sixty two percent of suspension and revocation cases are disposed through settlement agreements between the Coast Guard and mariners. Click here to view or download a chart showing the disposition of all cases reviewed by the GAO. •    Roughly three percent, or just 45 cases, were disposed through a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.

01 Aug 2007

Cummings: Administrative Law Functions Should be Separate from Coast Guard

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, convened the Subcommittee to examine the Coast Guard's administrative law system. "Today, the Subcommittee received testimony regarding the Coast Guard's administrative law system from two former Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) suggesting that during their tenure, they worked in an atmosphere that did not support their exercise of judicial independence in the consideration of cases. "Additionally, serious allegations were raised that, if true, would imply that patently improper actions may have been committed to direct an ALJ to decide matters in the Coast Guard's favor. The Subcommittee received testimony from Mr. Peter A. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Rosemary Denson, and Ms.