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Bill

HB 2451

administrative hearings; change of judge

57th Legislature - First Regular Session Introduced by Julie Willoughby

Arizona allows parties in administrative hearings to request judge changes, potentially improving fairness perceptions while risking delays in case processing.

Signed by Governor
0
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Bill Summary · HB 2451

Legislative bill overview

HB 2451 modifies Arizona's administrative hearing procedures to allow parties to request a change of judge (administrative law judge) during proceedings. The bill establishes a mechanism for judge recusal or reassignment based on party request, though specific grounds and procedural details would be contained in the full bill language.

Why is this important

This change affects thousands of administrative hearings annually in Arizona across agencies handling worker's compensation, unemployment, occupational licensing, and other matters. It directly impacts due process perceptions and parties' confidence in fair adjudication, while potentially affecting case timelines and administrative costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Due process vs. efficiency trade-off: Allowing judge changes could reduce perception bias but may slow case resolution and increase administrative burden
  • Standard for recusal: The bill's criteria for allowing judge changes may be unclear—whether "good cause" or simple party preference drives reassignment affects predictability
  • Resource implications: Reassigning judges to different cases requires scheduling coordination and may create backlogs if frequently invoked

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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