REMOTE HEARING PROCEDURES:
The Office of Administrative Law Judge is an authority independent of the PLCB that adjudicates all citations against licensees issued by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (BLCE). For each citation, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issues an adjudication presenting findings of fact, conclusions of law and penalties, where applicable.
Many ALJ adjudications are available
online in a searchable database
. The PLCB also summarizes citations and adjudications against licensees within its
License Search System.
Following citation by the BLCE, a licensee may either admit guilt and waive appeal rights by submitting a waiver accompanying the citation to the ALJ or request a hearing before an ALJ to challenge or contest the citation.
Similar to court hearings, ALJ hearings provide the licensee and the BLCE opportunities to testify under oath and call witnesses, who may be subjected to questioning by both parties. In a hearing, the BLCE has the burden of proving a licensee violated the Liquor Code.
The ALJ provides a number of
petition templates
to facilitate the adjudication process.
Contacting the Office of ALJ
Questions or comments regarding the adjudication process can be
submitted to the OALJ by email
. Additionally, the Office of ALJ maintains three district offices, identified below.
Chief ALJ & Harrisburg District Office
Brandywine Plaza
2221 Paxton Church Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717.540.5040![]( "Call: 717.540.5040")
Pittsburgh District Office
Parkway Center Dr. S
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
412.920.2007![]( "Call: 412.920.2007")
Philadelphia District Office
140 W. Germantown Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
610.832.1744![]( "Call: 610.832.1744")