arrow_back Civic Audit
Share share

Restoring Administrative Law Judges to Competitive Service

This act aims to restore administrative law judges to the competitive service, meaning their employment will be more stable and merit-based. These changes are intended to ensure greater independence for administrative law judges, which may impact the fairness and efficiency of how government agencies handle citizens' cases.
Key points
Administrative law judges will be selected based on examinations and qualifications, ensuring that the most competent individuals are appointed.
A law license and at least 7 years of legal experience will be required, raising qualification standards.
Administrative law judges will have greater independence, potentially leading to more objective decisions in cases affecting citizens.
Individuals currently serving as administrative law judges will be automatically converted to competitive service, with an exception for those appointed during a specific period after 2018.
article Official text account_balance Process page notifications_active Track this Bill
gavel
Status:
Expired
Record your position for audit.
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens (explained here). Start recording it now.
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_4448
Sponsor: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Process start date: 2021-07-16
System Note: Lustra is free, publicly auditable civic infrastructure, with full source code available on GitHub. You are reading sterilized legislative data, processed by our radical neutrality engine to strip political spin and retain factual mechanics. We process only official government data. Original documents remain the authoritative source, always verify them if you can.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
AI work logs for this document launch

OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Administrative Law Judges Competitive Service Restoration Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_4448.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-07-16.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Administrative law judges will be selected based on examinations and qualifications, ensuring that the most competent individuals are appointed.
  • A law license and at least 7 years of legal experience will be required, raising qualification standards.
  • Administrative law judges will have greater independence, potentially leading to more objective decisions in cases affecting citizens.
  • Individuals currently serving as administrative law judges will be automatically converted to competitive service, with an exception for those appointed during a specific period after 2018.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

What is the impact of this bill?

We don't know, that is up to you to decide. Summarizing raw data with AI is fundamentally different from predicting socio-economic outcomes. As of 2026, we believe impact assessment strictly requires a human in the loop to verify and judge.

CATEGORIES

Courts and Law Labor