Hearing Information

The Executive Hearing Office conducts administrative hearings regarding departmental actions taken by the Arizona Department of Transportation as authorized by Arizona Law.

The Executive Hearing Office provides a neutral forum for a fair and impartial hearing.  Hearings are administrative in nature.  All testimony is taken under oath, the hearing is audio recorded, and the decision is final subject to rehearing or appeal.  The Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who preside over the hearings at the Executive Hearing Office are experienced attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona.  
 

Your Responsibilities:

While your case is active, you must inform the Executive Hearing Office immediately if you change the address or other contact information you provided in your hearing request.   If you fail to do so you may may not receive important information about your case, and you could lose your hearing by default. You should also report address changes to the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) as required by law.

If you require special accommodations, such as a foreign language interpreter, sign language interpreter, or TTY telephone accommodations, please inform the Executive Hearing Office as soon as possible to avoid any delay in scheduling your hearing.

The Executive Hearing Office conducts hearings in person, by video conference, and by telephone.  Please check you notice of hearing for detailed information as to where, and how, your hearing will be held.

Preparing for your hearing:

If your hearing is in person, please arrive early to allow time for parking and to check in at the reception desk.  For all hearing types, prior to the date and time of your hearing, please carefully read and follow all instructions included in your notice of hearing.  If you are going to be late for any reason, please contact the Executive Hearing Office immediately at 602.712.7737.

It may be helpful for you to make a checklist of the major points that you want to make at the hearing.  Knowing what points you need to address may help you to clearly present any argument relevant to your case.  It is a good idea to speak clearly and present a professional appearance which includes being courteous to the judge, to the witnesses, and to the opposing party.

Specific rules governing hearings in the Executive Hearing Office may be found in the Transportation Section of the Arizona Administrative Code and in Title 28 and Title 41 of the, Arizona Revised Statutes.  These sources may also be found at any law library and in most public libraries.

What to expect at the hearing:

At the hearing, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) will identify the scope of the hearing, swear in the witnesses, and question the witnesses.  During the hearing, witnesses testify under oath (reliable hearsay is allowed), witnesses may be cross-examined, and the ALJ must consider all appropriate statutes, regulations, and case law.  The ALJ will consider the evidence and the testimony and may issue a decision at the hearing, or may take the matter under advisement and issue a decision after the hearing.  The written decision and order by the ALJ is final and binding.  If you do not agree with the decision, you may ask for a rehearing, or file an appeal with the Superior Court and potentially to the Court of Appeals.

What to expect after the hearing:

The judge will issue a Decision and Order, typically within 2 weeks after the hearing.  If the action has appellate review or rehearing review rights, they will be listed on the last page of the order.