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Post by johnthornton on Jul 2, 2009 17:00:31 GMT -5
From a report issued today:
"I remain concerned that OPM still has not refreshed the register for us to hire 208 additional ALJs for next year. The Commissioner has spoken to the OPM Director about our concern and has followed up with a letter. He will also meet with the OPM Director later this month on this matter. In addition, the Ways and Means Committee will be asking OPM for a status report on the ALJ register."
David V. Foster Deputy Commissioner
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Post by Legal Beagle on Jul 2, 2009 18:08:53 GMT -5
Obviously he has no clue as to how long it takes to "refresh the register." Wish he had to have gone through this process before getting his job.
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Post by odarite on Jul 2, 2009 18:57:30 GMT -5
No, LB, he does know which is why he is concerned that OPM has not opened the application up already. No reopening, no refreshing. And since they intend to hire these 208 for classes next summer, the register needs to be reopened ASAP to have a refreshed register ready for such a large hiring.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 5, 2009 9:07:28 GMT -5
Maybe ALJ Disc and others could have a FAQ thread for The Hon. David Foster and others of his ilk.
But hey, let's not shed any tears, Argentina! Alot of our brothers and sisters languishing on this Board these past two years may have Lazarus like legs.
Howzabout the idea of these very qualified holdovers writing a letter to OCALJ and telling him that they would like to interview at their expense and "correct" any falsely perceived misconceptions about his/her interview?
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Post by roggenbier on Jul 5, 2009 18:44:05 GMT -5
I think the issue whether the register will be refreshed, ultimately rests upon the numbers remaining on the register to fill the 208 positions. That precise number is unknowable, although people here have made some good guesses. For whatever reason, Social Security does not feel the numbers are sufficient. The languid response of OPM to SSA's increasingly shrill requests suggests that the raw numbers on the register are sufficient, but something else is missing from Social Security's standpoint. From my perspective, the quote referencing the need to take the registry refreshment issue up personally with the OPM director and with the Ways and Committee speaks to a bureaucratic impasse, perhaps because of Bushies vs. Obamanates, personalities, priorities, and bureaucratic turf battles. Congress is about to go out of session for the summer and the Ways and Means Committee and Social Security sub-committee have no hearings scheduled on the ALJ issue in the forseeable future. Without further political pressure on OPM, I suspect that the SSA may have to use the register as it now is constituted. I note further in this regard that the timing of opening the register in 2007 and 2008 occurred in proximity to when the Bureaucratic Lords appeared before Congress. See, we're responding to the disability backlog.
Just one former ALJ's thoughts.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 5, 2009 21:58:09 GMT -5
What is missing from the Register from OCALJ's point of view is more of whom they think they want. Seems rather elementary to me.
OPM should just say what they said in 2007--hey, do the math, there's plenty of folks on the Register.
Who knows--the system of choosing ALJs for SSA might just work the way it was intended. Too many new bodies makes for mischief.
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 7, 2009 11:34:12 GMT -5
In the event they "refresh the register"- does that mean the people currently on it are taken off (unless they re-apply)? I know that when I got my e-mail a couple of years ago they said that this register would expire on some date (don't remember when, but I feel like it was at least a year from now). Will I be contacted to let me know that I need to fill out the application again?
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Post by morgullord on Jul 7, 2009 11:47:29 GMT -5
"Refreshing" the register is akin to restocking a fish pond. If you are already in the pond, you need do nothing except review your GAL.
This register dies in October 2010; to get on the subsequent register, you will need to reapply.
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jazz
Full Member
Posts: 61
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Post by jazz on Jul 7, 2009 15:28:32 GMT -5
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think there are only about 600 left on the current register. If that is the case, they would need to refresh the register to hire 208 people. 208 X 3 = 624. The solution would be two certs for 104 each. Then those not picked up in the first cert of 104 could be included on the second cert. That way, the rule of three could be followed. Not likely, but it would work.
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Post by chinook on Jul 7, 2009 15:44:13 GMT -5
I tend to agree that there are about 600 on the register and SSA can make its 208 appointments in FY 2010 without refreshing. There are 58 (or so) due for an October start. OPM only needs to provide 174 names for that cert. If all 58 openings are filled that leaves approx. 540 to 550 on the register. SSA will then need a cert for the 150 remaining openings. OPM only needs to provide 450 names for that cert. That cert still won't hit the bottom of the register. If SSA fills those 150 positions there are still 400 on the register. That should be enough for all other agencies and a small cert to SSA if they wanted one. If OPM is really going to let this register expire in 2010, it is a waste of money for them to refresh at this time.
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Post by roggenbier on Jul 7, 2009 17:00:32 GMT -5
I was on the 1999 register have found ithe new so odd. Odd that so few people were allowed in and so many who applied were tripped up on trivialities. If it is true, as some assert, that so many of the candidates remaining will be ineligible in SSA's eyes after one certificAte, the system can only be sustained by a constant resupply of new people. Yet, it seems that no such resupply effort exists and is being resisted. According to congressional testimony, the old register held less than 600 candidates at times. OPM may feel that 600, although no one knows the number which may be more, is sufficient. It may be that a long term solution is needed to ensure a steady supply. The window of time to have a new batch is closing and in two months may be closed.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 7, 2009 21:18:08 GMT -5
I think that folks on the register, particularly those who were interviewed with SSA and were passed over, should seriously consider using this Board to get together and write to the OPM Director and specifically request that SSA's demand for reopening be denied. The letter can suggest that there are plenty of qualified people remaining on the register, and that SSA's random use of the three strike rule is creating a situation that does not exist, which is SSA's perceived need to reopen the register. Frankly, a joint letter to Berry might get some attention, particularly if it is from sitting register members, and might just get OPM to glance over at SSA's practices in hiring ALJs. Just a suggestion. Those who fear placing their name on such a letter should know that if you got passed over once, your chances of being hired drop dramatically, and become very small if SSA gets to reopen. So, squeaky wheel time. "You're invisible now, you got nothing to conceal..." Bob Dylan, "Like A Roliing Stone" patriotsfan has a point. It IS squeaky wheel time.
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gator
New Member
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Post by gator on Jul 7, 2009 23:15:44 GMT -5
NY Lawyer -- No one will contact you. When the cert expires, it expires. If you want back on the cert you will need to be watching USAJOBS for the announcement that OPM has re-opened the application. I receommend setting up an "Agent" to notify you when it reopens, unless you have good freinds in the system who can give you a call right away when it happens. Last two application periods were open for only a few days each time. But with so many wanting one of these jobs, OPM will not be contacting those still on the register saying its time to reapply.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2009 18:52:00 GMT -5
I never imagined I would find myself rooting for OPM. I don't object to representing His Dark Satanic Majesty, Beelzebub, Azazel, Mammon, Moloch or, indeed, any other princeling of the infernal host, but cheering for OPM just kinda makes me feel . . . dirty.
Nevertheless, OPM don't reopen the register. Puhleeeeze. <shiver>
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Post by morgullord on Jul 9, 2009 9:43:49 GMT -5
...and slipping him some tongue...
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Post by privateatty on Jul 9, 2009 14:30:28 GMT -5
I never imagined I would find myself rooting for OPM. I don't object to representing His Dark Satanic Majesty, Beelzebub, Azazel, Mammon, Moloch or, indeed, any other princeling of the infernal host, but cheering for OPM just kinda makes me feel . . . dirty. Nevertheless, OPM don't reopen the register. Puhleeeeze. <shiver> I know for some rooting for OPM is like kissing Hitler on the lips, but this time they are the front line of the battle. We're ALL rooting for OPM, but puleeeze, pf!
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 9, 2009 20:48:07 GMT -5
morgullord - thanks, that pretty much answers my question. Just making sure that I am not going to be bumped off early.
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Post by stealth on Jul 10, 2009 0:39:14 GMT -5
After reading the responses to this particular topic it prompted me to act:
July 10, 2009
Open Letter to Mr. John Berry Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Theodore Roosevelt Building 1900 E Street NW Washington, DC 20415
Re: The Administrative Law Judge Register
Dear Mr. Berry,
Please take notice that there are well qualified interested candidates with legal “standing” currently sitting patiently on the Administrative Law Judge Registry, maintained by your agency, who fully support the notion that reopening the application process in order to refresh the Registry is a fundamentally unfair and bad idea that should NOT take place until after the current Registry expires. As one of these interested candidates, who obtained a decent enough score to be interviewed by the Social Security Administration, the largest Federal Agency that hires from the Registry, I am speaking out in opposition to the application process being reopened for the reasons articulated herein.
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner for the Social Security Administration has announced the Agency’s intention to hire an additional 250 or so Administrative Law Judges in addition the 150 or so offers recently made. I assert that the Registry is currently compiled of competent individuals who are fully prepared to participate in the process of implementing the Agency’s Initiatives to Eliminate the Social Security Administration Hearings Backlog. With this in mind, I further assert that the Social Security Administration should not be allowed to force your hand in reopening the Registry so that the desire of those of us on the Registry to receive offers from the Social Security Administration in the next round of hiring can be circumvented by nepotism, cronyism, favoritism, and politicalism (as alluded to in the June 1, 2009, Federal Employees News Digest article entitled Union: SSA Stressful, Contrary to “Best Places” Ranking). I fully understand the ways of this world and acknowledge that these isms have their place in society; however, there should have been ample opportunity for the isms to have been addressed in the first round of the Social Security Administration’s 2009 hiring.
I hope that you agree with me that now is the time for those of us eagerly perched upon the “Registry Fence” to be given a fair chance to spread our wings and fly with well deserved offers for ALJ positions from the Social Security Administration. Among the perched are individuals with several years of dedication to public service in the Federal and State governmental arenas, there are individuals in private practice who are legal practitioners obviously not interested in the big paychecks of the private sector but ready to dedicate their service to the greater good of government work, and more specifically there are actual Social Security Administration Attorneys who have been carrying out the mission of the Agency for years, handling administrative aspects of the Agency as managers, defending Administrative Law Judge decisions by preparing briefs for Federal Court, and writing Administrative Law Judge decisions to provide first line service to claimants, claimant representatives, and even to Administrative Law Judges and Agency staff under less than favorable, overworked, under staffed, back logged circumstances despite being verbally degraded, belittled, and treated unfairly by current Administrative Law Judge “Old Timers” who ironically assert that were are unfit to do the Administrative Law Judge job when the only real differences between us and them are the “bench” and the “robe,” literally.
Please afford us a fair chance at being hired as Administrative Law Judges before refreshing the Registry. The Social Security Administration’s need to use the illusive “Rule of 3” can be met with the current Registry as long as those individuals, with several geographic preferences, not hired from the 3 names submitted, if done, are recycled.
Finally, financially speaking the Social Security Administration in the first round of 2009 hiring did hire some individuals in their home cities and this luxury should be afforded to as many left on the Registry as possible.
Thank you in advance for actually reading and considering the points made herein.
Sincerely,
Anonymous ALJ Candidate
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Post by jagghagg on Jul 10, 2009 7:02:52 GMT -5
Why the anonymity ? If you believe it, step up to the plate.
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Post by privateatty on Jul 10, 2009 8:16:12 GMT -5
Why the anonymity ? If you believe it, step up to the plate. If stealth won't actually sign the letter its because he/she believes that someone at OPM (General Counsel's Office?) would "drop a dime" on him/her. Assuming that this could happen I guess the next question is would this letter be fatal to his/her chances with OCALJ/SSA. The answer to both questions is a resounding yes. The latter office is trying to avoid "trouble-makers" at all costs, legally or otherwise. Its a good letter, though.
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