California Code of Regulations
Title 13 - Motor Vehicles
Division 1 - Department of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 2 - New Motor Vehicle Board
Article 1 - Administration
Section 551.12 - Notice of Assignment of Administrative Law Judges; Peremptory Challenges

Universal Citation: 13 CA Code of Regs 551.12

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) The name of the administrative law judge assigned to a protest or petition proceeding will be noted on the order of time and place of hearing. An amended order or notice will be issued if a different administrative law judge is subsequently assigned to the proceeding.

(b) Each party, excluding an intervenor, is entitled to one peremptory challenge of the administrative law judge assigned to preside over the hearing on the merits of a petition as required by Vehicle Code section 3050(b) or the administrative law judge assigned to preside over the hearing on the merits of a protest as required by subdivisions (c) and (d) of Vehicle Code section 3050, based solely upon satisfying all of the following requirements:

(1) The peremptory challenge must be filed with the board no later than either 20 days from the date of the order of time and place of hearing identifying the merits administrative law judge or 20 days prior to the date scheduled for commencement of the merits hearing, whichever is earlier.

(2) The peremptory challenge may be made by the party, the party's attorney, or authorized representative appearing in the proceeding, and shall be by written declaration substantially in the following form: "I am a party to [case name and number] and am exercising my right to a peremptory challenge regarding ALJ [name], pursuant to Section 551.12 and Govermnent Code section 11425.40(d)"; and

(3) The peremptory challenge shall be served on opposing parties.

(c) If a party obtains the removal of the assigned administrative law judge, either by way of peremptory challenge, or for cause under Section 551.1, any other party shall have the right to a peremptory challenge of the subsequently assigned administrative law judge provided that the party complies with subparagraphs (b)(2)-(3), above. This latter peremptory challenge shall be filed with the board no later than either 20 days from the date of the notice or order identifying the subsequent administrative law judge or 10 days prior to the date scheduled for the merits hearing, whichever is earlier.

(d) No peremptory challenge shall be considered or granted if it is not made within the time limits set forth above.

(e) A peremptory challenge of the assigned administrative law judge is not authorized for law and motion hearings, settlement conferences, and rulings on discovery disputes.

(f) Unless required for the convenience of the board or good cause is shown, a continuance of the merits hearing shall not be granted by reason of a peremptory challenge. Nothing in this regulation shall affect or limit the provisions of Vehicle Code section 3066(a), 3080(a), or 3085.2(a).

(g) Nothing in this regulation shall affect or limit the provisions of a challenge for cause under Article 1, section 551.1.

1. New section filed 9-23-98; operative 10-23-98 (Register 98, No. 39).
2. Change without regulatory effect amending section filed 12-31-2003 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2004, No. 1).
3. Amendment of first paragraph and subsections (e) and (h) filed 11-8-2005; operative 12-8-2005 (Register 2005, No. 45).
4. Amendment of section heading, section and NOTE filed 5-18-2006; operative 6-17-2006 (Register 2006, No. 20).
5. Amendment of section and NOTE filed 2-24-2011; operative 3-26-2011 (Register 2011, No. 8).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (f) and NOTE filed 2-25-2016 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2016, No. 9).
7. Amendment of subsections (b)-(b)(2), (c) and (e)-(f) and amendment of NOTE filed 10-18-2018; operative 1-1-2019 (Register 2018, No. 42).
8. Change without regulatory effect amending subsections (b) and (f) and amending NOTE filed 1-16-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 3).
9. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 12-17-2019; operative 4-1-2020 (Register 2019, No. 51).
10. Amendment of subsections (b) and (f) and amendment of NOTE filed 9-29-2021; operative 1-1-2022 (Register 2021, No. 40).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 3050, 3066, 3080 and 3085.2, Vehicle Code. Reference: Section 3050, Vehicle Code; and Section 11425.40, Government Code.

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