Authorized by law and issued by a regulatory agency, administrative “decisions” adjudicate controversies arising out of the violation or interpretation of statutes and regulations. “Opinions” arise from a question regarding a contemplated action and advise on the interpretation of statutes and regulations. “Orders” refer to final actions or dispositions regarding an agency action. The Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 (5 U.S.C. § 551 et. seq.) directs an administrative law judge (ALJ) to hear and decide regulatory disputes at the initial level. ALJ decisions can be appealed to the chief administrative officer of the regulatory agency.
There is no single comprehensive publication that indexes or reports administrative decisions, opinions, or orders. Agency decisions and orders can be found in either the official reports issued by a regulatory agency or in commercially published unofficial reports.
Some agencies have long-standing reporters that date back to the beginning of the regulatory activity. Others do not print any report but require interested parties to call and request each item. Many agencies are now making their material available via the internet.
Some commercial publishers include agency decisions in their publications. These unofficial reports can be found by performing a subject search in the library catalog to see if the library owns any services that deal with that area of law. Alternatively, researchers can consult legal research guides for the subject area of interest.
This guide contains a list of official publications owned by the Ross-Blakley Law Library as well as internet sites that contain decisions. Most of the official reports in this library are shelved in the Government Documents Collection on the first floor.
Government Information Resources: Administrative Decisions and Other Actions This website by the University of Virginia Library provides links to administrative decisions and other actions arranged alphabetically by agency.
Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications Call Number: GP 3.8/7: The Current edition is located on the Law Gov Docs Index Table and is also available at http://catalog.gpo.gov/F. The Government Printing Office is in the process of creating Franklin, an online catalog for the National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications. More information about Franklin can be found at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/cip/index.html.
How to Find the Law Call Number KF240 .C538 1989. Appendix D, “Sources of Federal Regulatory Agency Rules, Regulations and Adjudications”, contains a fairly comprehensive list of administrative reports. Arranged alphabetically by agency, it lists the official reports, unofficial reports and whether the reports appear on Lexis or Westlaw.
Citators Use a citator, such as Shepard's on LexisNexis or KeyCite on Westlaw, to find citations to decisions and orders of various federal administrative departments, courts, boards and commissions.
Agency Name
Title of Reporter
Gov. Docs Call Number
Agriculture Dept.
Agriculture Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: A 1.58: v.1 (1942) –
From v.59 (Jan. 2000) to present: http://www.usda.gov/da/oaljdecisions/
Benefits Review Board (Dept. of Labor)
Decisions
From 1986 to present: http://www.dol.gov/brb/decisions.htm
Board of Immigration Appeals (Dept. of Justice)
Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Law
Law Gov Docs Stacks: J 21.11: v.1 (1940) – 22 (2000)
From 1955 (v.8) to present: http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/vll/intdec/lib_indecitnet.html
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)
Quarterly Bulletin (contains Alcohol Tobacco and Firearm Rulings and Treasury Dept. Decisions dealing with ATF)
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 70.7: 1980–1992:2 Law Gov Docs Microforms: T 70.7: 1993–2000:1
June 1998–2002: http://www.atf.treas.gov/pub/index.htm#Bulletins
Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAB)
Decisions of the Civil Aeronautics Authority
Law Gov Docs Stacks: CAB 1.21: v.1 (1938/1940) – v.106 (March 1984)
Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA)
From 2007 to present: http://www.cbca.gsa.gov/decisions-new.htm
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Opinions and Orders
From 1997 to present: http://www.cftc.gov/lawandregulation/opinionsandorders/archive/index.htm
Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office (GAO)
U.S. First Comptroller Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 13.5: v.1 (1880) – v.7 (1893–94)
Digest of Decisions of the Second Comptroller of the Treasury
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 14.5: v.1 (1817–65) – v.4 (1893–94)
Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 15.5: v.1 (1894) – v.27 (1921)
Digest of Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 15.6: 1894–1920 (1 v.)
Decisions of the Comptroller General of the United States
Law Gov Docs Stacks: GA 1.5: v.1 (1921) – v.73 (1993–94)
From Oct. 1995 to present: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gaodecisions/index.html
Recent Decisions: http://www.gao.gov/legal/index.html
Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury Dept.
Quarterly Journal (Comptroller's Decisions)
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 12.18: v.1 (1981) – v.22 (2003)
From 1998 to present: http://www.occ.treas.gov/qj/qj.htm
Interpretations and Actions (Corporate, CRA, Deposit Guarantee, and Mergers Decisions)
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 12.3/11x: v.5:3 (1992) –
From 1996 to present: http://www.occ.treas.gov/interp/monthly.htm
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Office of the General Counsel
Advisory Opinions
From 1973 to present: http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/advisory.html
Contract Appeals Board - Armed Services
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals
From April 1996 to present: http://docs.law.gwu.edu/asbca/decis08.htm
Court of Federal Claims
Court of Claims Reports
Law Gov Docs Stacks: JU 3.9: v.113 (1949) – v.231 (1982)
Federal Claims Reporter
Law Core v.27 (1993) –
From 1997 to present: http://www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/opinions-decisions-0
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Customs Rulings
From 1989 to present: http://rulings.cbp.gov/
Customs Bulletin
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 17.6/3-5: v.1 (1967) – 20 (1986); v.23 (1989); v.32 (1998) – 33 (1999) Law Gov Docs Microforms: T 17.6/3-5: v.21(1988) – 22(1988); v.24 (1990) – 36 (2002)
Customs Bulletin and Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: T 17.6/3-4: v.37/1 – 37/14 (2003) Law Gov Docs Stacks: HS 4.103: v.37/15 – 38/1 (2003)
From 2002 to present: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/legal/bulletins_decisions/
Defense Dept. See Military Courts
Education Department
Office of Hearings and Appeals Decisions
From 1989 to present: http://www.ed-oha.org/ohadecisions.html
Decisions of the Secretary
From 1989 to present: http://www.ed-oha.org/secretarydecisions.html
Employees Compensation Appeals Board (ECAB) (Dept. of Labor)
Digest and Decisions of the Employees Compensation Appeals Board
Law Gov Docs Stacks: L 28.9: v.36 (1984) – 55 (2004)
From 1998 to present: http://www.dol.gov/ecab/decisions.htm
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Appeals Board Decisions
From 1992 to present: http://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/ EAB_Web_Docket.nsf/Statutes?OpenPage
Decisions and Orders originating from the EPA's Office of Administrative Law Judges
From 1989 to present: http://www.epa.gov/aljhomep/orders.htm
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Decisions - Federal Sector
Law Gov Docs Microforms: Y 3.EQ2:18/: 9001–9195(1984), 1001(1984) – 96:10(1996)
From 2000 to present: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/decisions.html
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Federal Communications Commission Reports: Decisions, Reports, and Orders
Law Gov Docs Stacks: CC 1.12: v.1 (1935) – 45 (1965); 2nd series v.1 (1965) – 99 (1985); v.100:1 (1985) – 104:4 (1986)
FCC Record: a Comprehensive Compilation of Decisions, Reports, Public Notices, and Other Documents
Law Gov Docs Stacks: CC 1.12/3: v. 1(1986) – 7:18(1992); v.8:19 (1993) – Law Gov Docs Microforms: CC 1.12/3: v. 3:10–11(1988); v.7:17; v.19–26 (1992); v.8:1–18 (1993)
Memorandum Opinions and Orders
From 1996 to present: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/edocsLink.do? mode=advance&type=n (search by document type MO&O)
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FDIC Enforcement Decisions and Orders
From 1975 to present: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/enforcement/index.html
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
Federal Election Commission Record (digest of advisory opinions)
Law Gov Docs Stacks: Y 3.EL2/3:11: v.5 (1979) – v.27 (2001)
1977–1990: http://www.fec.gov/law/enforcement/ao_search.shtml From 1990 to present: http://saos.nictusa.com/saos/searchao
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Reporter
Law Gov Docs Stacks: E 2.17: v.1 (1977) –
From 2005 to present: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/dec-not.asp
Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA)
Decisions of the Federal Labor Relations Authority
Law Gov Docs Stacks: Y 3.F31/21-3:10-4/: v.1(1979) – 17 (1985); v.21 (1986) – v.26 (1987); v.29 (1987); v.47 (1993) – 48 (1994); v.50 (1995); v.60 (2005) Law Gov Docs Microforms: Y 3.F31/21-3:10-4/: v.18 (1985) – 28 (1987); v.30 (1988) – 59 (2004) Law Gov Docs Stacks: Y 3.F 31/21-3:9/CASE NO.
From 1979 to present: http://www.flra.gov/18.html
Administrative Law Judge Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: Y 3.F31/21-3: 9-3/: v. 21 (1983) –
Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
Decisions of the Federal Maritime Commission
Law Gov Docs Stacks: FMC 1.10: v.7 (1961/1964) – 21(1978/1979); v.23 (1980/1981) – 28 (1987) Law Gov Docs Microforms: FMC 1.10: v.21 (1978/1979) – 22 (1979/1980)
Formal Docket Decisions from 1987 to present: http://www.fmc.gov/reading/ FormalDocketDescisionsIssuances1996Present.asp Selected ALJ Decisions from 1998 to present: http://www.fmc.gov/reading/DocketProceedings.asp
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC)
Decisions / Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Law Gov Docs Stacks: Y 3.M66:9: v.1 (1979) – 25:10 (2003); v.25:12 (2003)
Commission Decisions and ALJ decisions from 1995 to present: http://www.fmshrc.gov/decisions/decisions.htm
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Federal Trade Commission Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: FT 1.11: v.1 (1915/19) – 128 (1999)
FTC Cases by Case Name from 1996 to present: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/index.shtm
Adjudicative Opinions from 1996 to present: http://www.ftc.gov/os/adjopinions.shtm
Advisory and Staff Opinions
Advisory Opinions from 1982 to present: http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/opinions.shtm
Health & Human Services
Departmental Appeals Board Decisions
From 1974 to present: http://www.hhs.gov/dab/search.html
Housing and Urban Development
Administrative Law Judges Decisions
Fair Housing Act Cases from 1989 to present: http://www.hud.gov/offices/oalj/cases/fha/index.cfm
Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) (Justice Dept.)
See Also: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Admin. Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws
Admin. Decisions Under Employer Sanctions and Unfair Immigration Related Employment Practices Laws of the U.S.
Law Gov Docs Stacks: J 1.103: v.1 (1988) – 8 (2000)
From 1988 (v.1) to present: http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/OcahoMain/ocahosibpage.htm
Interior Dept.
Decisions of the Department of the Interior
Law Gov Docs Stacks: I 1.69: v.1 (1881) – v.101 (1994)
Interior Board of Land Appeals Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks: I 1.69/5x: v.18 (1975) – v.67 (1982)
From 1992: http://www.ibiadecisions.com/Ibla/iblamainpage.html
Interior Board of Indian Appeals
Interior Board of Indian Appeals, from 1970 to present: http://www.ibiadecisions.com/
Indian Self-Determination Act Decisions, from 1997: http://www.ibiadecisions.com/Isda/IsdaCaseListpt1.html
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Internal Revenue Bulletin and Cumulative Bulletin
Law Tax KF6301.A4 (1919–21) Law Tax KF6301.A41 – A44 (1923 – )
From 1995 to present: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/lists/0,,id=98230,00.html
Law Gov Docs Stacks - JU 9.5/2: v.1 (1980) – 26 (2002)
From 1999 to present: http://www.cit.uscourts.gov/slip_op/slip-op.html
United States Customs Court Reports
Law Gov Docs Stacks - JU 9.5: v.1(1938) – 85 (1980)
Court of Customs Appeals Reports / Cases Decided in United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
Law Gov Docs Stacks - JU 7.5: v.1 (1910/11) – 69 (1981/82)
Cases Decided in United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Law Gov Docs Stacks JU7.5/2: v.1 (1982/83) – 13 (1994/95)
Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
Interstate Commerce Commission Reports 1st series
Law Gov Docs Stacks - IC 1.6: v.1 (1877) – 367 (1984)
Interstate Commerce Commission Reports 2nd series
Law Gov Docs Stacks - IC 1.6/10: v.1 (1984) – 10 (1995)
Surface Transportation Board Reports
1996–2003 http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/elibrary/stb_reports.html
Surface Transportation Board Decisions and Notices
From 1996 to present: http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/ReadingRoom.nsf/DailyReleases
Justice Dept.
Official opinions of the attorneys general of the United States
Law Gov Docs Stacks - J 1.5: v.1 (1852) – 43 (1982)
Opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice
Law Gov Docs Stacks - J 1.5/4:v.1 (1977) – 20 (1996)
From 1992 to present: http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/opinionspage.htm
Labor Dept.
Office of the Administrative Law Judge (OALJ) - Decisions of the Administrative Review Boards
http://www.oalj.dol.gov/ (Dates vary)
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
United States Merit Systems Protection Board Reporter
Law Gov Docs Stacks - MS 1.10: v.1 (1979) – 13 (1983); v. 31 (1987) –
From 1979 to present: http://www.mspb.gov/sites/mspb/pages/MSPB%20Decisions.aspx
Military Courts
West's Military Justice Reporter
Law Gov Docs Stacks - D 1.19B: v.1 (1978) –
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Decisions and Orders of the National Labor Relations Board
Law Gov Docs Stacks - LR 1.8: v.1 (1935/36) –
Board Decisions, from v.1 (1935) to present: http://www.nlrb.gov/research/decisions/board_decisions/index.aspx
ALJ Decisions from 2003 to present: http://www.nlrb.gov/research/decisions/alj_decisions.aspx
Regional Directors from 1995 to present: http://www.nlrb.gov/research/decisions/regional_directors.aspx
National Mediation Board (NMB)
Determinations of the National Mediation Board
Law Gov Docs Stacks - NMB 1.2:C 84: v.1 (1930) – 5 (1978) Law Gov Docs Stacks - NMB 1.9: v.6 (1976) – 30 (2003), 32 (2004/2005)
From 1998 to present: http://www.nmb.gov/representation/decmenu.html
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
National Transportation Safety Board Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks - TD 1.122: v.1(1967) – 7 (1991)
From 1992 to present: http://www.ntsb.gov/alj/O_n_O/query.asp
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances
Law Gov Docs Stacks - Y 3.N88:11/: v.1(1975) – v.22(1985). Law Gov Docs Microfiche - Y 3.N88:11/: v.23 (1986) – 26 (1987), v.28 (1988) – 59 (2004)
Advance Sheets - Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances
Law Gov Docs Stacks - Y 3.N88:11-2/: v.60(2004) –
From v.46, 1997 to present: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr0750/
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHARC)
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Reports
Final Administrative Law Judge Decisions, from 1993 to present; Final Commission Decisions, from 1972 to present: http://www.oshrc.gov/decisions/decisions.html
Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), Commerce Dept.
Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents
Law Gov Docs Stacks - C 21.6: 1869–1968 (compiled from v. 1 – v.857 of the Official Gazette)
U.S. Patents Quarterly (USPQ)
Law Treatises KF2975.A2 U5: v.1 (1929) – 231(1986)
U.S. Patents Quarterly (USPQ) Weekly Advance Sheets
Law Treatises KF2975 .A2 U51
Final Decisions of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) from 1997 to present: http://des.uspto.gov/Foia/BPAIReadingRoom.jsp
Precedential BPAI opinions (dates vary): http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/bpai/prec.htm
Informative BPAI opinions - recent: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/bpai/informative_opinions.html
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Decisions, from 1994 to present: http://des.uspto.gov/Foia/TTABReadingRoom.jsp
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
PBGC Opinion Letters
From 1974 to present: http://www.pbgc.gov/practitioners/law-regulations- informal-guidance/content/page13191.html
Post Office
Official Opinions of the Solicitor for the Post-Office Dept.
Law Gov Docs Stacks - P 6.5: v.1(1873/85) – 9 (1936/51)
Administrative Decisions
From 1957 to present: http://www.usps.com/judicial/
Purchasing Protest Decisions
From 1987 to present: http://www.usps.com/lawdept/protestdecisions/
Board of Contract Appeals Decisions
From 1990 to present: http://www.usps.com/judicial/BCAD/welcome.htm
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Securities and Exchange Commission Decisions and Reports
Law Gov Docs Stacks - SE 1.11: v.1 (1934/1936) – 56 (2003)
SEC Docket
Law Gov Doc Stacks - SE 1.29: 1973 – 1983 Law Gov Docs Microforms - SE 1.29: v.24 (1981) –
Federal Court Actions/Litigation Releases from 1995 to present: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases.shtml
Administrative Proceedings, 1995 to present: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin.shtml
Commission Opinions, 1996 to present: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/opinions.shtml
ALJ Decisions and Orders, from 1965 to present: http://www.sec.gov/litigation/aljdec.shtml
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social Security Rulings - Disability
Law Gov Docs Stacks - HE 3.6: D63/2: 1961–1986
Social Security Acquiescence Rulings
Law Gov Docs Stacks - HE 3.6/2-2: 1988–1995 Law Gov DocsS tacks - SSA 1.6/2:1995
Social Security and Acquiescence Rulings (currently in effect) from 1960 to present: http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/rulings.html
Tax Court
Reports of the U.S. Board of Tax Appeals
Law Tax KF6280.A2 T36: v.1 (1924) – 47 (1942)
Reports of the Tax Court of the United States
Law Tax KF6280.A2 T37: v.1 (1942) – 53 (1969)
Reports of the United States Tax Court
Law Tax KF6280 .A2 T38: v.54 (1970) –
TC and Memorandum Opinions, from 1995 to present; Summary Opinions, from 2001 to present: http://www.ustaxcourt.gov/UstcInOp/asp/HistoricOptions.asp
Treasury Dept.
Treasury Decisions
Law Gov Docs Stacks - T 1.11: v.1 (1899) – 101 (1966)
Law Gov Docs Stacks - T 17.6/3-5: v.1 (1967) – 20 (1986); v.23 (1989); v.32 (1998) – 33 (1999) Law Gov Docs Microforms - T 17.6/3-5 (Cabinet 3): v.21 (1988) – 22 (1988); v.24 (1990) – 36 (2002)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Bulletin, from 2002 to present: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/legal/bulletins_decisions/
Veterans' Affairs, Dept. of
Veterans' Appeals Board. Decisions.
Board of Veterans' Appeals Decisions, from 1992 to present: http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/bva.html
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Decisions, from 1990 to present: http://www.vetapp.gov/orders_and_opinions/Opinions.cfm
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