Opinion ID: 407565
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Member Applewhaite's Alleged Personal Interest in the PATCO Case

Text: 111 As we have noted, the special evidentiary hearing ordered in this case has filled in much of the factual picture left incomplete by the McGrath affidavit and the FBI reports. One feature of the picture revealed by the inquiry is the contents of Member Applewhaite's and Mr. Shanker's dinner conversation. A. L. J. Vittone found that near the end of their conversation Member Applewhaite observed that he was concerned about his prospects for reappointment in July 1982. He also commented that, because the PATCO case was hotly contested, he would be viewed with disfavor by whichever side he voted against. In response, Mr. Shanker urged Applewhaite to vote without regard to personal considerations. Findings at 17, P 15. 112 Based essentially on this brief conversation, Member Frazier now proposes that Member Applewhaite had a personal interest in the outcome of the PATCO case. Member Frazier contends that the record shows that Member Applewhaite was concerned that if he voted in favor of PATCO, he would not be reappointed by the Administration, and that if he voted against PATCO (and was not reappointed), his career in labor law would suffer from organized labor's reaction to his vote. Because of these alleged personal interests in the outcome, Member Frazier argues that Member Applewhaite was disqualified from hearing the PATCO case. 113 We do not read as much into this conversation as does Member Frazier. It is not surprising that an agency member appointed by the President might be concerned about his prospects for reappointment. We are not so naive as to believe that such thoughts do not cross a member's mind. 54 Nor would we assume that an Authority Member would believe that his decisions are irrelevant to the President's determination whether to reappoint him. Similarly, it is hardly surprising for Member Applewhaite to recognize that his decision in a hotly contested case would not receive universal approbation. The appropriate question here is not whether Member Applewhaite recognized that his decision might not be universally approved; rather, the correct inquiry is whether Member Applewhaite's concerns rendered him incapable of reaching a fair decision on the merits of the case before him. 55 114 The cited brief conversation between Member Applewhaite and Mr. Shanker does not demonstrate an inability to fairly decide the case. Courts have long recognized a presumption of honesty and integrity in those serving as adjudicators. Withrow v. Larkin, 421 U.S. 35, 47, 95 S.Ct. 1456, 1464, 43 L.Ed.2d 712 (1975). Accord, NLRB v. Donnelly Garment Co., 330 U.S. 219, 229, 67 S.Ct. 756, 761, 91 L.Ed. 854 (1947); United States v. Morgan, 313 U.S. 409, 421, 61 S.Ct. 999, 1004, 85 L.Ed. 1429 (1941). Absent a strong showing to the contrary, an agency adjudicator is presumed to act in good faith and to be capable of ignoring considerations not on the record. See, e.g., FTC v. Cement Institute, 333 U.S. 683, 700-03, 68 S.Ct. 793, 803-04, 92 L.Ed. 1010 (1948); Lead Industries Association v. EPA, 647 F.2d 1130, 1178 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1042, 101 S.Ct. 621, 66 L.Ed.2d 503 (1980). 115 Member Frazier argues that there is a strong showing in this case because here we have an open admission of Member Applewhaite's concerns. Such a verbalization of an agency adjudicator's thoughts on the public record, argues Member Frazier, is rare. While it may indeed be rare, we think that is the result of the rarity of evidentiary hearings such as we have ordered here, and not the product of an especially strong personal concern by Member Applewhaite. 56 116 Indeed, any doubts we might otherwise have about the source of Member Applewhaite's ultimate decision in this case have been dispelled by the evidentiary hearing and the A. L. J.'s findings. Member Applewhaite did believe that he would be viewed with disfavor by whichever side he voted against. 57 But Member Applewhaite explained that this was no different from any arbitration case in which he had ruled-one party wins and the other loses. He testified: I have always faced that problem(,) so I just have to call it like it is and ... take my chances. Tr. 744. We have no reason to doubt this testimony. Furthermore, A. L. J. Vittone's findings reveal that the PATCO case was never mentioned in Member Applewhaite's contacts with Administration officials. Findings at 32, PP 4-6; at 34-35, PP 8-10, 12. A. L. J. Vittone found that Member Applewhaite never held out his vote in PATCO as deserving consideration by the Administration with respect to his possible reappointment, id. at 35, P 13, and that his conversations with Administration officials did not affect in any manner Applewhaite's decision in the PATCO case, id. at 35, P 14. In these circumstances, Member Frazier's concerns about Member Applewhaite's bias are simply inapposite. 58 Thus, we believe that the evidentiary hearing has refuted even the probability of unfairness. In re Murchison, 349 U.S. 133, 136, 75 S.Ct. 623, 625, 99 L.Ed. 942 (1955). A remand on the basis of personal interest is therefore unnecessary. 59