U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 

Release No. 63214/October 29, 2010 

Report on Administrative Proceedings 

For Period April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010 

Rule 900 of the Commission’s Rule of Practice (17 CFR 201.900) requires the 

Commission’s Secretary to issue a six-month status report on the Commission’s administrative 

proceedings caseload. 

The attached report identifies the number of matters pending before the administrative 

law judges and the Commission at the beginning of the six-month period; the number of matters 

instituted, filed, and disposed of during the period; and the number pending at the end of the 

period. For each category of decision, the report shows the median age of the matters at the time 

of decision and the number of matters decided within the guidelines in Rule 900 for the timely 

completion of adjudicatory proceedings or within the time specified in orders instituting 

proceedings for issuance of an initial decision, or any extension granted by the Commission. 

Finally, the report includes data from the previous two six-month periods. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report on Administrative Proceedings 

for the Period April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010 

Matters Before the Administrative Law Judges 

4/1/2010-

9/30/2010 

10/01/2009-

 03/31/2010 

04/01/2009-

09/30/2009 

Number pending at start of period 39 33 25 

New matters added during period 92 74 85 

Subtotal 131 107 110 

Dispositions: 84 68 77 

Initial Decisions 10 5 16 

Other dispositions 74
 

(e.g., settlements, defaults)1
 

63 61 

Total pending at end of period 47 39 33 

Initial Decisions: 10 5 16 

Median age at decision (days) 146 128 105

 Number issued within guideline 

 or specified time period 7 5 13 

Matters Before the Commission 

4/1/2010-

9/30/2010 

10/01/2009-

 03/31/2010 

04/01/2009-

09/30/2009 

Review of ALJ Matters2 

Number pending at start of period 7 11 12 

New matters added during period 7 4 4 

Subtotal 14 15 16 

Dispositions: 8 8 5 

Opinions 5 6 5 

Other dispositions 3 2 0 

 (e.g., dismissals) 

Total pending at end of period 6 7 11 

Dispositions: 

Median age at decision (days) 266 407 211 

Number decided within guideline3 4 2 3 

1

 Includes all proceedings disposed of other than by an initial decision, including default orders that dispose of the entire proceeding. 2

 May include review of initial decisions, review of other non-interlocutory ALJ matters, and matters on remand from the Courts of 

Appeals. Does not include review of ALJ matters where the review is being conducted by an Office other than the General 

Counsel. 3

 Guideline for matters appealed 7/17/03 or later is seven months, or 11 months if the Commission determines that a matter 

presents unusual complicating circumstances. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matters Before the Commission 

4/1/2010-

9/30/2010 

10/01/2009-

 03/31/2010 

04/01/2009-

09/30/2009 

Review of Self-Regulatory Organization Decisions4 

Number pending at start of period 12 10 12 

New matters added during period 7 11 4 

Subtotal 19 21 16 

Dispositions: 10 9 6 

Opinions 6 7 5 

Other dispositions 

(e.g., dismissals, remands) 

4 2 1 

Total pending at end of period 

Dispositions: 

9 12 10 

Median age at decision (days) 206 225 266 

Number decided within guidelines5 6 4 2 

4/1/2010-

9/30/2010 

10/01/2009-

 03/31/2010 

04/01/2009-

09/30/2009 

Miscellaneous Matters 

Interlocutory Motions: 

Number pending at start of period 0 0 0 

Number filed during period 0 0 0 

Number decided during period 0 0 0 

Total pending at end of period 0 0 0 

Median age at decision (days) 0 0 0 

Number decided within 45 days 0 0 0 

Stay Requests: 

Number pending at start of period 0 0 0 

Number filed during period 3 4 1 

Number decided during period 3 4 1 

Total pending at end of period 0 0 0 

Median age at decision (days) 26 10 11 

Number decided within guidelines6 1 3 1 

4

 May include matters filed pursuant to Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and matters filed pursuant to Section 

105(e) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. 5

 Guideline for matters appealed 7/17/03 or later is seven months, or 11 months if the Commission determines that a matter 

presents unusual complicating circumstances. 6

 Guideline is either five days or 45 days from the date for opposing the motion, depending on the effective date of the order 

requested to be stayed.