[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 37, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 37CFR10.156]

[Page 371]
 
              TITLE 37--PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 10--REPRESENTATION OF OTHERS BEFORE THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 10.156  Decision of the Commissioner.

    (a) An appeal from an initial decision of the administrative law 
judge shall be decided by the Commissioner. The Commissioner may affirm, 
reverse or modify the initial decision or remand the matter to the 
administrative law judge for such further proceedings as the 
Commissioner may deem appropriate. Subject to paragraph (c) of this 
section, a decision by the Commissioner does not become a final agency 
action in a disciplinary proceeding until 20 days after it is entered. 
In making a final decision, the Commissioner shall review the record or 
those portions of the record as may be cited by the parties in order to 
limit the issues. The Commissioner shall transmit a copy of the final 
decision to the Director and to the respondent.
    (b) A final decision of the Commissioner may dismiss a disciplinary 
proceeding, reprimand a practitioner, or may suspend or exclude the 
practitioner from practice before the Office.
    (c) A single request for reconsideration or modification of the 
Commissioner's decision may be made by the respondent or the Director if 
filed within 20 days from the date of entry of the decision. Such a 
request shall have the effect of staying the effective date of the 
decision. The decision by the Commissioner on the request is a final 
agency action in a disciplinary proceeding and is effective on its date 
of entry.

[50 FR 5172, Feb. 6, 1985, as amended at 54 FR 6660, Feb. 14, 1989]

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