About Administrative Appeals in New Jersey
Administrative cases cover a variety of issues, including those involving civil service, environmental regulation decisions, professional licensure, liquor licenses, permits, denial of benefits, government pensions, public education, and many other matters.
When someone disagrees with a decision made by a government agency, they can file an appeal with an administrative law judge (ALJ) and seek to have the decision overturned. Administrative appeals in New Jersey work similarly to other appeals, but there are a few key differences to remember:
- Administrative appeals have different, more lax rules of use of evidence.
- Administrative appeals are handled by the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law, which is not part of the judiciary but is instead an agency within the executive branch. It is, therefore, separate from the Superior Courts (specifically, the Appellate Division) that hear most appeals in New Jersey.
If the administrative law judge (ALJ) hears your case and rules against you, you can file an appeal first with the Commissioner of the government agency at issue, and then with the Appellate Division of the state Superior Courts. From here, the appeals process is essentially the same as with any other case heard in a state court.