California OAH special education order · July 12, 2024
Order of Disqualification
OAH Case No. 2024060229 · ALJ Kara Hatfield
ALJ Kara Hatfield recused herself from the prehearing conference and the case, finding that recusal would further the interests of justice and that her impartiality could reasonably be doubted.
Summary
ALJ Kara Hatfield was assigned on July 11, 2024 to the July 15, 2024 prehearing conference in this case against Los Angeles Unified. No party brought a motion. On her own, she disqualified herself under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.1, subdivision (a)(6)(A). She found that recusal would further the interests of justice, that there was substantial doubt about her capacity to be impartial, and that a person aware of the facts might reasonably doubt her impartiality. The order does not say what those facts are.
Why it matters
OAH judges can and do remove themselves from a case without any motion when their impartiality could be questioned. Parties should expect a different ALJ to be assigned, possibly close to a scheduled conference.
Key authority cited
- Code Civ. Proc., § 170.1, subd. (a)(6)(A)
People named in the order
- Kara Hatfield, Administrative Law Judge
Topics
Full text of the order
Published text of the OAH order. Page headers and numbers from the original PDF have been dropped.
BEFORE THE
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE MATTER OF:
PARENT ON BEHALF OF STUDENT,
v.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.
OAH CASE NUMBER 2024060229
ORDER OF DISQUALIFICATION
JULY 12, 2024
On July 11, 2024, Administrative Law Judge Kara Hatfield was assigned to the prehearing conference for this matter scheduled for July 15, 2024. The Office of Administrative Hearings is called OAH. Administrative Law Judge is called ALJ.
California Code of Civil Procedure section 170.1, subdivision (a)(6)(A) mandates that a judge shall be disqualified if for any reason:
(i) The judge believes his or her recusal would further the interests of justice.
(ii) The judge believes there is a substantial doubt as to his or her capacity to be impartial.
(iii) A person aware of the facts might reasonably entertain a doubt that the judge would be able to be impartial.
ALJ Hatfield believes her recusal would further the interests of justice, that there is substantial doubt ALJ Hatfield can be impartial in this matter, and that a person aware of the facts might reasonably entertain a doubt that ALJ Hatfield would be able to be impartial. Accordingly, ALJ Hatfield recuses herself from hearing this matter.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Kara Hatfield Administrative Law Judge Office of Administrative Hearings