Office of Hearings & Appeals - FILING PROCEDURES

The following filing procedures apply to proceedings before judges and hearing officials within the Office of Hearings and Appeals only. Parties should also consult the applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.). A party may file a submission via U.S. mail, hand-delivery or electronically.

On February 1, 2007, OHA launched its E-filing Pilot Project permitting E-filing by or by For more information about, go

Format of Briefs and Exhibits
Briefs are generally limited to a maximum of 15 pages unless the case is exceptionally complex. The judge or hearing official has discretion as to whether to allow longer filings.

All exhibits submitted by the United States Department of Education should be marked numerically after the symbol ED, such as ED-1, ED-2, etc., and those of Respondent should be marked numerically after the symbol R, such as R-1, R-2, etc. All pages of each exhibit should be consecutively numbered. Exhibits should be submitted on 8½ x 11 paper in booklet format, tabbed, and bound firmly along the left margin. The binding should obscure no part of the text of the exhibit. The brief should not be attached to the exhibit booklet. Three ring loose-leaf binders, binder clips, and rubber band or string bindings may not be used.

The parties should refer to the case docket number in all correspondence. All submissions relating to the proceeding shall be in the form of an original and one copy to our office, with simultaneous service of an additional copy upon all opposing parties. A party should include as exhibits any references to materials other than published statutes, regulations, and decisions. Consistent with the rules for citation contained in THE BLUEBOOK: A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CITATION, cite all federal regulations to the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) by title, section, and year. Cite to the most recent edition of the C.F.R. only when appropriate.

A continuance of the schedule provided in the Order Governing Proceedings will be given only in cases where good cause is shown. Upon request, either party may file a reply brief.

Privacy Issues
Electronic documents that contain personally identifying information should be redacted. Personally identifiable information includes social security numbers, dates of birth, personal financial account numbers, and home addresses of students or individuals. See to comply with our requirements regarding the inclusion and/or redaction of personally identifiable information in a party's brief or exhibits.

Failure to comply with the procedures and instructions set forth herein, without demonstration of exceptional circumstances, shall result in rejection of the submission.


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				Filing Procedures The following filing procedures apply to proceedings before judges and hearing officials within the Office of Hearings and Appeals only. Parties should also consult the applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.). A party may file a submission via U.S. mail, hand-delivery or electronically. OHA's Electronic Filing (E-filing) Pilot Project On February 1, 2007, OHA launched its E-filing Pilot Project permitting E-filing by web-based electronic formor by facsimile transmission. For more information aboutOHA's E-Filing Pilot Project, gohere. Format of Briefs and Exhibits Briefs are generally limited to a maximum of 15 pages unless the case is exceptionally complex. The judge or hearing official has discretion as to whether to allow longer filings. In all proceedings before OHA, a party must file an original hard copy and one copy by U.S. Mail, private courier, or hand-delivery regardless of whether a party chooses to submit their brief or other pleading electronically. All exhibits submitted by the United States Department of Education should be marked numerically after the symbol ED, such as ED-1, ED-2, etc., and those of Respondent should be marked numerically after the symbol R, such as R-1, R-2, etc. All pages of each exhibit should be consecutively numbered. Exhibits should be submitted on 8½ x 11 paper in booklet format, tabbed, and bound firmly along the left margin. The binding should obscure no part of the text of the exhibit. The brief should not be attached to the exhibit booklet. Three ring loose-leaf binders, binder clips, and rubber band or string bindings may not be used. The parties should refer to the case docket number in all correspondence. All submissions relating to the proceeding shall be in the form of an original and one copy to our office, with simultaneous service of an additional copy upon all opposing parties. A party should include as exhibits any references to materials other than published statutes, regulations, and decisions. Consistent with the rules for citation contained in THE BLUEBOOK: A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CITATION, cite all federal regulations to the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) by title, section, and year. Cite to the most recent edition of the C.F.R. only when appropriate. A continuance of the schedule provided in the Order Governing Proceedings will be given only in cases where good cause is shown. Upon request, either party may file a reply brief. Privacy Issues Electronic documents that contain personally identifying information should be redacted. Personally identifiable information includes social security numbers, dates of birth, personal financial account numbers, and home addresses of students or individuals. SeeOHA's Privacy Procedures for Filings to comply with our requirements regarding the inclusion and/or redaction of personally identifiable information in a party's brief or exhibits. Failure to comply with the procedures and instructions set forth herein, without demonstration of exceptional circumstances, shall result in rejection of the submission. Go Here to Get OHA's Mailing Addresses