ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE

An administrative law judge (ALJ) in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is the initial trier of fact and decision maker. ALJs can administer oaths, take testimony, rule on questions of evidence, and make factual and legal determinations. ALJ-controlled proceedings are comparable to a bench trial, and, depending upon the agency's jurisdiction, may have complex mutli-party adjudication as is the case with the the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or simplified and less formal procedures as is the case with the Social Security Administration.
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A hearings officer who presides over appeal conflicts between providers of services, or beneficiaries, and Medicare contractors.