ALJ
Law & Legal abbreviation · Court
| Stands for | Administrative law judge |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
ALJ stands for Administrative law judge, a court abbreviation.
Judge who presides over hearings inside a government agency, taking evidence, ruling on motions and issuing decisions in matters such as Social Security disability claims, labor disputes, securities enforcement and professional licensing. ALJs work in the executive branch rather than the judiciary, and their decisions are usually reviewable by the agency and then a court.
Example: At the hearing, the ALJ asked the vocational expert whether the claimant could perform any sedentary jobs.
Usage notes
The largest group of federal ALJs decides Social Security disability appeals. Lucia v. SEC (2018) held that SEC ALJs are officers who must be properly appointed, and SEC v. Jarkesy (2024) required jury trials for certain civil-penalty claims the agency had brought before its ALJs. Many states use ALJs drawn from a central hearing panel.
Related abbreviations
More court abbreviations
- 7th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- 8th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- 9th Cir. – United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- AAG – Assistant attorney general
- ADA – Assistant district attorney
- AG – Attorney General
- APD – Assistant public defender
- App. Div. – Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York
- ASA – Assistant state's attorney
- AUSA – Assistant United States Attorney
- Bankr. – Bankruptcy court
- BAP – Bankruptcy Appellate Panel
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This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.