Commission Review Of Initial Orders

(1) An Initial Order issued by an Administrative Law Judge or TABC Hearing Officer, sitting alone, may be reviewed by the Commission pursuant to T.C.A §§ 4-5-301, et seq., these Rules, and the Rules of the Secretary of State Chapter 1360-04-01. The Commission may, in its discretion, decline to exercise any review of an Initial Order issued by an Administrative Law Judge or TABC Hearing Officer, in which event the Initial Order issued by an Administrative Law Judge or TABC Hearing Officer shall become a Final Order as provided by the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. (2) In such a review proceeding, the Commission’s review is strictly limited to the record which was developed before the Administrative Law Judge or TABC Hearing Officer. No additional evidence is to be received or considered by the Commission. (3) Such a review proceeding is in the nature of appellate review. Each party will be given the opportunity to file a brief which should specify what action the party maintains the Commission should take on the Initial Order. The Commission may place reasonable page RULES OF PROCEDURES FOR HEARING CONTESTED CASES CHAPTER 0100-04 limitations on such briefs to be determined on a case by case basis depending on the number and complexity of the issues to be reviewed. (4) In such a review proceeding, each party will normally be limited to oral argument of fifteen (15) minutes in length, including rebuttal. (5) At the conclusion of the review proceeding the Agency may decide that the Initial Order should be adopted in its entirety, or it may make such modifications to the Initial Order as it deems appropriate. Alternatively, the Agency may take the case under advisement, and subsequently reconvene, after reasonable notice to the parties, to hold its public deliberations and to render a Final Order.