Aetna Life Ins. 33 U.S.C. sec. If Maxon struck out before the administrative law judge, it could obtain further review of the issue of the exemp- tion from the Benefits Review Board. Until the Board ruled, Maxon would not have exhausted its administrative remedies, the normal and appropriate prerequisite to ob- taining judicial review of agency action. If Maxon had exhausted its administrative reme- dies, the next rung on the remedial ladder would have been review by this court, skipping the district court.
Administrative agencies are often guilty of unconscionable delay.
But Maxon had and has remedies, including judicial remedies, against egregious, prejudicial, unjustifiable administrative foot-dragging. In fact it asked the administrative law judge in Hawkins's case for an ex- pedited ruling on the validity of the exemption. We do not mean to tantalize Maxon with unrealistic pros- pects. The tools available to courts for remedying admin- istrative delay are limited and weak. There is no Speedy Administrative Proceeding Act.