Biography of Judge Perry Rhew

Chief United States Administrative Law Judge
Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals

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Judge Perry J. Rhew serves as the Chief United States Administrative Law Judge for the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA). Judge Rhew, 47, became the first Managing ALJ for the Cleveland OMHA on April 3, 2005 and two weeks later was appointed the Acting Chief ALJ. He served in that capacity until his appointment as OMHA's first Chief ALJ on May 28, 2006. As Acting Chief Judge he oversaw the Department's hiring and training of over 300 employees, including judges, attorneys, paralegals, legal assistants, docket clerks and management staff members, and the opening of four hearing offices in Cleveland, Irvine, Miami and Arlington. He directs the OMHA Headquarters staff in Arlington, Virginia. Judge Rhew frequently meets with Congressional staff members, other agency heads within the Department of Health and Human Services, and interested parties from other federal agencies. He oversees the budget planning and staffing models for the OMHA, anticipating the needs of a growing docket of Medicare appeals.

A native of Missouri, Judge Rhew obtained a B.S. in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University, and a J.D. from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. He began his legal career as a public defender. He served for twelve years in elected office in his home state, first as a prosecuting attorney and then for two terms as a state court judge in a court of general jurisdiction. In that capacity he heard criminal cases ranging from misdemeanor offenses to capital murder trials, and civil litigation from uncontested divorces to civil jury trials.

He resigned from public office in 1997 to accept an appointment as a federal ALJ in Cleveland with the Social Security Administration. He was serving as the Acting Chief ALJ in the Cleveland Office of Hearings and Appeals at the time of his current appointment in DHHS.

A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, Judge Rhew serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Union in the greater Cleveland metropolitan area. A playwright and vocalist, his works are primarily contemporary Christian drama. He and his partner currently reside in the Cleveland, Ohio area.