Are Independent Hearing Officers A Good Idea for Idaho’s Water?

Sponsored by the Idaho State Bar Water Law Section

Presented by McHugh Bromley Legal Education, LLC

Length: Approx. 4.0 hrs

4.0 CLE credits including 0.75 Ethics credits

Cost: $230.00

Agenda

Overview of the Issue

                        Candice McHugh, McHugh Bromley, PLLC                     

Idaho’s Office of Administrative Hearings, Ensuring Expertise and How to Keep Hearing Officers Independent and Without Bias

                        Hon. Bryan A. Nickels, Office of Administrative Hearings

Idaho Agencies that Conduct Their Own Hearings

                        Idaho Industrial Commission  - Claire Sharp, Commission, Idaho Industrial Commission

                        Public Utilites Commission -  Preston Carter, Givens Pursley

Western States’ Case Studies – What Do Other States Do and What Are Their Ethical Rules for Hearing Officers?

                        Mathew Bain, Parsons Behle & Latimer - Montana

                        Jim Browitt, Browitt Law Office - Washington

A Judicial Perspective - Do Independent Hearing Officers Do a Better Job Than In-House Hearing Officers?            

                        Justice Roger Burdick, Retired Chief Justice, Idaho Supreme Court

How Does It Work Within IDWR & Code of Ethics Within the Agency

                        James Cefalo, Idaho Department of Water Resources

Perspectives on Independent Hearing Officers for Idaho’s Contested Cases On Water Issues

                        Moderator: Candice McHugh, McHugh Bromley, PLLC

                        Panelists:

                        Thomas J. Budge, Racine Olson, PLLP

                        Christopher M. Bromley, McHugh Bromley, PLLC

                        Andy Waldera, Sawtooth Law Offices

                        James Cefalo, Idaho Department of Water Resources

Report from Small Groups/Next Steps/Recommendations Summary