Opinion ID: 712016
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: 5 Title 5, section 7703, of the United States Code strictly limits and defines our review of Board decisions. We must affirm the Board's decision unless it is 6 (1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; 7 (2) obtained without procedures required by law, rule, or regulation having been followed; or 8 (3) unsupported by substantial evidence. 9 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7703(c) (1994). Further, Moore has the burden of demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that the Board has jurisdiction. Stern v. Department of the Army, 699 F.2d 1312, 1314 (Fed.Cir.), cert. denied, 462 U.S. 1122 (1983); 5 C.F.R. Sec. 1201.56(a)(2) (1995). III Analyses 10 The Board has no subject matter jurisdiction over suspensions of fourteen days or less. 5 U.S.C. Secs. 7503, 7512; 5 C.F.R. Sec. 1201.3; Synan v. Merit Sys. Protection Bd., 765 F.2d 1099, 1100-01 (Fed.Cir.1985); Meglio v. Merit Sys. Protection Bd., 758 F.2d 1576, 1578 (Fed.Cir.1984). Since Moore's suspension was for only one day, the Board correctly dismissed her appeal. 11 The AJ also correctly found that Moore's unfair labor practices claim does not confer jurisdiction on the Board. Moore's 30 September 1994 submission stating that she has an unfair labor practices claim against the agency and summarizing what had happened to her over the prior four years did not confer jurisdiction on the Board. Her submission indicates that she may have a claim for prohibited personnel practices under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 2302, but such claims do not confer jurisdiction on the Board absent an otherwise appealable action. See Wren v. Department of the Army, 2 M.S.P.R. 1 (1980), aff'd sub nom. Wren v. Merit Sys. Protection Bd., 681 F.2d 867, 871-73 (D.C.Cir.1982). Since Moore's one-day suspension is not an otherwise appealable action, the Board has no authority to hear her claim for prohibited personnel practices. See Cruz v. Department of the Navy, 934 F.2d 1240, 1245-48 (Fed.Cir.1991) (in banc). 12 In summary, the jurisdiction of the Board is limited to those areas specifically granted by law, rule, or regulation. 5 U.S.C. Sec. 7701(a). Because Moore appealed a one-day suspension, the AJ correctly held that the Board did not have jurisdiction over her appeal.