Sec. 10. (a) An administrative law judge is subject to disqualification for:

(1) bias, prejudice, or interest in the outcome of a proceeding;

(2) failure to dispose of the subject of a proceeding in an orderly and reasonably prompt manner after a written request by a party;

(3) unless waived or extended with the written consent of all parties or for good cause shown, failure to issue an order not later than ninety (90) days after the latest of:

(A) the filing of a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment under section 23 of this chapter that is filed after June 30, 2011;

(B) the conclusion of a hearing that begins after June 30, 2011; or

(C) the completion of any schedule set for briefing or for submittal of proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for a disposition under clauses (A) or (B); or

(4) any cause for which a judge of a court may be disqualified.

Before July 1, 2020, nothing in this subsection prohibits an individual who is an employee of an agency from serving as an administrative law judge.

(b) This subsection does not apply to a proceeding concerning a regulated occupation (as defined in IC 25-1-7-1), except for a proceeding concerning a water well driller (as described in IC 25-39-3) or an out of state mobile health care entity regulated by the state department of health. An individual who is disqualified under subsection (a)(2) or (a)(3) shall provide the parties a list of at least three (3) special administrative law judges who meet the requirements of:

(1) IC 4-21.5-7-6, if the case is pending in the office of environmental adjudication.

(2) IC 14-10-2-2, if the case is pending before the division of hearings of the natural resources commission; or

(3) subject to subsection (d), any other statute or rule governing qualification to serve an agency other than those described in subdivision (1) or (2).

Subject to subsection (c), the parties may agree to the selection of one (1) individual from the list.

(c) If the parties do not agree to the selection of an individual as provided in subsection (b) not later than ten (10) days after the parties are provided a list of judges under subsection (b), a special administrative law judge who meets the requirements of subsection (b) shall be selected under the procedure set forth in Trial Rule 79(D), 79(E), or 79(F).

(d) This subsection applies after June 30, 2020, to an agency whose proceedings are subject to the jurisdiction of the office of administrative law proceedings. If an administrative law judge is disqualified under this section, the director of the office of administrative law proceedings shall assign another administrative law judge.

As added by P.L.18-1986, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.32-2011, SEC.3; P.L.205-2019, SEC.10.