Jane Rodda - Chief Administrative Law Judge / Division Director
Sarah Harpring - Hearing Division Assistant Director
The Hearing Division has dual missions:
(1) to establish and preside over all procedural aspects of, and make substantive recommendations for the resolution of, all Commission cases that involve evidentiary hearings as well as many Commission cases that do not involve evidentiary hearings; and
(2) to operate the Commission's Docket Control Section, which is responsible for receiving all case filings made with the Commission and maintaining the Commission's eDocket system, through which the public may obtain access to all case filings and Commission decisions.
The Hearing Division's 11 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) exercise the Commission's authority to hold evidentiary hearings on cases involving the regulation and oversight of non-governmental utilities (public service corporations), pipeline and railroad crossing safety, and securities and securities salespersons and investment management advisors pursuant to Arizona's Securities Act and Investment Management Act. For each assigned case, the ALJ establishes the procedural requirements and schedules. If an evidentiary hearing is held, the ALJ presides over the formal hearing that involves opening statements, sworn witness testimony, cross-examination of witnesses, admission of documentary and other evidence, and closing statements or post-hearing briefs. In addition to evidentiary hearings, ALJs also preside over oral arguments, rulemaking oral proceedings, arbitrations, public comment proceedings, and procedural conferences/status conferences.
The assigned ALJ makes the substantive recommendations for the resolution of a case in the form of a Recommended Opinion and Order (if an evidentiary hearing, rulemaking oral proceeding, or arbitration has been held) or a Recommended Order (if no evidentiary hearing, rulemaking oral proceeding, or arbitration has been held). Commissioners consider each Recommended Opinion and Order/Recommended Order at an Open Meeting.