1201.125—Administrative law judge.
(a)
An administrative law judge will hear a disciplinary action complaint brought by the Special Counsel.
(b)
Except as provided in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the administrative law judge will issue an initial decision on the complaint pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 557. The applicable provisions of §§ 1201.111, 1201.112, and 1201.113 of this part govern the issuance of initial decisions, the jurisdiction of the judge, and the finality of initial decisions. The initial decision will be subject to the procedures for a petition for review by the Board under subpart C of this part.
(c)
(1)
In a Special Counsel complaint seeking disciplinary action against a Federal or District of Columbia government employee for a violation of 5 U.S.C. 7323 or 7324, where the administrative law judge finds that the violation does not warrant removal, the administrative law judge will issue a recommended decision to the Board in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 557.
(2)
The parties may file with the Clerk of the Board any exceptions they may have to the recommended decision of the administrative law judge. Those exceptions must be filed within 35 days after the date of service of the recommended decision or, if the filing party shows that the recommended decision was received more than 5 days after the date of service, within 30 days after the date the filing party received the recommended decision.
(3)
The parties may file replies to exceptions within 25 days after the date of service of the exceptions, as that date is determined by the certificate of service.
(4)
No additional evidence will be accepted with a party's exceptions or with a reply to exceptions unless the party submitting it shows that the evidence was not readily available before the administrative law judge closed the record.
(5)
The Board will consider the recommended decision of the administrative law judge, together with any exceptions and replies to exceptions filed by the parties, and will issue a final written decision.