If a formal hearing was held, the agency usually has to enter its final order within 90 days of the administrative law judge’s recommended order. If an informal hearing was held before a hearing officer, the agency should usually enter its final order within 90 days of the informal hearing. The agency is generally required to send a copy of the final order to every person involved in the hearing. It is the final agency order that can be appealed. (Note: If the order does not advise a party of their appeal rights, it might not be a final order, so the party wanting to appeal should promptly ask the agency for a final order stating the appeal rights).
Final orders of an administrative law judge. Only a few types of orders entered by administrative law judges are considered final and appealable. Those orders include:
(2) an order awarding one party attorney’s fees at the end of the case.
