Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Decisions
After a Regional Director issues a complaint in an unfair labor practice
case, an NLRB Administrative Law Judge hears the case and issues a
decision and recommended order, which can then be appealed to the
Board in Washington. If no exceptions are filed, the judge's order
becomes the order of the Board. An administrative law judge's decision
is not binding legal precedent in other cases unless it has been adopted
by the Board on review of exceptions; these judges function much like
trial court judges hearing a case without a jury. Such hearings are
conducted at the locality where the unfair labor practice allegedly
occurred. On occasion, administrative law judges also issue decisions
in non-complaint, post-election representation cases that may be appealed
to the Board.