Source: https://regulations.atf.gov/search/555?version=2015-25190&q=Hearing
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 08:23:07+00:00

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If a licensee or permittee whose renewal application has been denied or whose license or permit has been revoked desires a hearing, he shall file a request for a hearing with the Director, Industry Operations. In the case of the revocation of a license or permit, he may include a request for a stay of the effective date of the revocation. On receipt of the request the Director, Industry Operations shall advise the licensee or permittee whether the stay of the effective date of the revocation is granted. If the stay of the effective date of the revocation is granted, the Director, Industry Operations shall refer the matter to an administrative law judge who shall set a time and place (see § 555.77) for a hearing and shall serve notice of the hearing upon the licensee or permittee and the Director, Industry Operations at least 10 days in advance of the hearing date. If the stay of the effective date of the revocation is denied, the licensee or permittee may request an immediate hearing. In this event, the Director, Industry Operations shall immediately refer the matter to an administrative law judge who shall set a date and place for a hearing, which date shall be no later than 10 days from the date the licensee or permittee requested an immediate hearing. The hearing will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 71 of this chapter. Within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the hearing, and as expeditiously as possible, the administrative law judge shall render his decision. He shall certify to the complete record of the proceeding before him and shall immediately forward the complete certified record, together with two copies of his decision, to the Director, Industry Operations, serve one copy of his decision on the licensee or permittee or his counsel, and transmit a copy to the attorney for the Government.
If the applicant for an original license or permit desires a hearing, he shall file a request with the Director, Industry Operations within 15 days after receipt of the notice of denial. The request should include a statement of the reasons for a hearing. On receipt of the request, the Director, Industry Operations shall refer the matter to an administrative law judge who shall set a time and place (see § 555.77) for a hearing and shall serve notice of the hearing upon the applicant and the Director, Industry Operations at least 10 days in advance of the hearing date. The hearing will be conducted in accordance with the hearing procedures prescribed in part 71 of this chapter (see § 555.82). Within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the hearing, and as expeditiously as possible, the administrative law judge shall render his recommended decision. He shall certify to the complete record of the proceedings before him and shall immediately forward the complete certified record, together with four copies of his recommended decision, to the Director, Industry Operations for decision.
The designated place of hearing set as provided in § 555.73 or § 555.75, will be at the location convenient to the aggrieved party.
An applicant, licensee, or permittee may be represented by an attorney, certified public accountant, or other person recognized to practice before the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives as provided in 31 CFR Part 8, if he has otherwise complied with the applicable requirements of 26 CFR 601.521 through 601.527. The Director, Industry Operations shall be represented in proceedings under §§ 555.73 and 555.75 by an attorney in the office of the chief counsel or regional counsel who is authorized to execute and file motions, briefs, and other papers in the proceedings, on behalf of the Director, Industry Operations, in his own name as “Attorney for the Government”.
An appeal to the Director is not required prior to filing an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for judicial review. An appeal may be taken by the applicant, licensee, or permittee to the Director from a decision resulting from a hearing under § 555.73 or § 555.75. An appeal may also be taken by a Director, Industry Operations from a decision resulting from a hearing under § 555.75 as provided in § 555.76(b). The appeal shall be taken by filing a petition for review on appeal with the Director within 15 days of the service of an administrative law judge's decision or an order. The petition will set forth facts tending to show (a) action of an arbitrary nature, (b) action without reasonable warrant in fact, or (c) action contrary to law and regulations. A copy of the petition will be filed with the Director, Industry Operations or served on the applicant, licensee, or permittee, as the case may be. In the event of appeal, the Director, Industry Operations shall immediately forward the complete original record, by certified mail, to the Director for his consideration, review, and disposition as provided in subpart I of part 71 of this chapter. When, on appeal, the Director affirms the initial decision of the Director, Industry Operations or the administrative law judge, as the case may be, the initial decision will be final.
(a) Initial application proceedings. If, upon receipt of the record and the recommended decision of the administrative law judge, the Director, Industry Operations decides that the license or permit should be issued, the Director, Industry Operations shall cause the application to be approved, briefly stating, for the record, his reasons. If he contemplates that the denial should stand, he shall serve a copy of the administrative law judge's recommended decision on the applicant, informing the applicant of his contemplated action and affording the applicant not more than 10 days in which to submit proposed findings and conclusions or exceptions to the recommended decision with supporting reasons. If the Director, Industry Operations, after consideration of the record of the hearing and of any proposed findings, conclusions, or exceptions filed with him by the applicant, approves the findings, conclusions and recommended decision of the administrative law judge, the Director, Industry Operations shall cause the license or permit to be issued or disapproved the application accordingly. If he disapproves the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the administrative law judge, in whole or in part, he shall by order make such findings and conclusions as in his opinion are warranted by the law and the facts in the record. Any decision of the Director, Industry Operations ordering the disapproval of an initial application for a license or permit shall state the findings and conclusions upon which it is based, including his ruling upon each proposed finding, conclusion, and exception to the administrative law judge's recommended decision, together with a statement of his findings and conclusions, and reasons or basis for his findings and conclusions, upon all material issues of fact, law or discretion presented on the record. A signed duplicate original of the decision will be served upon the applicant and the original copy containing certificate of service will be placed in the official record of the proceedings. If the decision of the Director, Industry Operations is in favor of the applicant, he shall issue the license or permit, to be effective on issuance.
Whenever the Director, Industry Operations has reason to believe that an applicant for an original license or permit is not eligible to receive a license or permit under the provisions of § 555.49, he shall issue a notice of denial on ATF F 5400.11. The notice will set forth the matters of fact and law relied upon in determining that the application should be denied, and will afford the applicant 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice in which to request a hearing to review the denial. If no request for a hearing is filed within that time, a copy of the application, marked “Disapproved”, will be returned to the applicant.
If following the opportunity for compliance under § 555.71, or without opportunity for compliance under § 555.71, as circumstances warrant, the Director, Industry Operations finds that the licensee or permittee is not likely to comply with the law or regulations or is otherwise not eligible to continue operations authorized under his license or permit, the Director, Industry Operations shall issue a notice of denial of the renewal application or revocation of the license or permit, ATF F 5400.11 or ATF F 5400.10, as appropriate. In either case, the notice will set forth the matters of fact constituting the violations specified, dates, places, and the sections of law and regulations violated. The notice will, in the case of revocation of a license or permit, specify the date on which the action is effective, which date will be on or after the date the notice is served on the licensee or permittee. The notice will also advise the licensee or permittee that he may, within 15 days after receipt of the notice, request a hearing and, if applicable, a stay of the effective date of the revocation of his license or permit.

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