All topics / Public Safety and Access to Justice
Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings
Established by Executive Order 32, signed by Mayor Ed Koch in 1979, to move disciplinary and disability hearings out of the agencies bringing the cases and into a centralized, independent tribunal of Administrative Law Judges. Voters made OATH a formal Charter agency in 1988, and a 2008 Charter amendment moved the Environmental Control Board under its authority, turning a small trials office into the City's central administrative law court.
What's working
- How many summonses resolved through pre-hearing activities are there?: 244,567 summonses — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year following a dip in filings
- How many appeals decisions were rendered?: 1,294 decisions — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year and running behind pace
- How many days does it take to Judicial Hearings Officers to render decisions?: 15 days — increasing, tracking a rise in hearing volume and decisions issued
- and 3 more below
What's getting worse
- What percent of OATH Trials Division cases with decisions issued within 45 business days?: 69%
- What percent of OATH Trials Division facts and conclusions adopted by agencies?: 95% — misses target by 1%
- What percent of participants who reported satisfaction with conflict resolution services?: 98%
- and 1 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
What percent of OATH Trials Division facts and conclusions adopted by agencies?
95%Misses target by 1%
What percent of OATH Trials Division facts and conclusions adopted by agencies?
95%Misses target by 1%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 96% | 96% |
| FY23 | 99% | 96% |
| FY24 | 99% | 96% |
| FY25 | 97% | 96% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 95% | 96% |
95% in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (1% below the 96% target), though it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OATH was created in 1979 to centralize administrative adjudication in a body independent of the agencies bringing cases, and became a permanent charter agency in 1988. Its scope has broadened significantly since then; a 2008 City Council amendment moved the Environmental Control Board — which handles many quality-of-life and environmental violation cases governed by both state and city law — under OATH, substantially expanding the range of cases it now hears.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia
What percent of special education cases closed within regulatory timeframe?
72.7%Misses target by 17.3%
What percent of special education cases closed within regulatory timeframe?
72.7%Misses target by 17.3%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available | 90% |
| FY23 | Not available | 90% |
| FY24 | 95.3% | 90% |
| FY25 | 70.2% | 90% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 72.7% | 90% |
72.7% in FY26 — missed the City's own target for this indicator (17.3% below the 90% target), and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 1 year of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, parents who disagree with the NYC Department of Education over their child's special-education services have a legal right to an independent "impartial hearing." OATH's Special Education Hearings Division administers these hearings through Impartial Hearing Officers — experienced attorneys appointed to four-year terms specifically to insulate them from pressure by either the DOE or the families involved — whose written decisions are legally binding and can be enforced in court.
Overview — Special Education Hearings, OATH, Due Process Hearings — OATH
On average, what is the time from appointment to OATH Special Education Hearing Officer to case closure?
118.7 hearingBeats target by 13.7 hearing
On average, what is the time from appointment to OATH Special Education Hearing Officer to case closure?
118.7 hearingBeats target by 13.7 hearing
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available | 105 hearing |
| FY23 | Not available | 105 hearing |
| FY24 | 84.5 hearing | 105 hearing |
| FY25 | 101.9 hearing | 105 hearing |
| FY26 (YTD) | 118.7 hearing | 105 hearing |
118.7 hearing in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (13.7 hearing above the 105 hearing target), and it has trended toward improvement over the past 1 year of reported data.
Why this is tracked
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, parents who disagree with the NYC Department of Education over their child's special-education services have a legal right to an independent "impartial hearing." OATH's Special Education Hearings Division administers these hearings through Impartial Hearing Officers — experienced attorneys appointed to four-year terms specifically to insulate them from pressure by either the DOE or the families involved — whose written decisions are legally binding and can be enforced in court.
Overview — Special Education Hearings, OATH, Due Process Hearings — OATH
Without a numeric target
What percent of OATH Trials Division cases with decisions issued within 45 business days?
69%
What percent of OATH Trials Division cases with decisions issued within 45 business days?
69%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 78% |
| FY23 | 89% |
| FY24 | 83% |
| FY25 | 79% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 69% |
69% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
OATH was created in 1979 to centralize administrative adjudication in a body independent of the agencies bringing cases, and became a permanent charter agency in 1988. Its scope has broadened significantly since then; a 2008 City Council amendment moved the Environmental Control Board — which handles many quality-of-life and environmental violation cases governed by both state and city law — under OATH, substantially expanding the range of cases it now hears.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia
How many summonses resolved through pre-hearing activities are there?
244,567 summonses — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year following a dip in filings
How many summonses resolved through pre-hearing activities are there?
244,567 summonses — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year following a dip in filings
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 193,455 summonses |
| FY23 | 263,343 summonses |
| FY24 | 285,592 summonses |
| FY25 | 377,222 summonses |
| FY26 (YTD) | 244,567 summonses |
| FY26 (projected) | ~326,089 summonses |
This indicator tracks summonses resolved before a hearing (through cures, stipulations, settlements or pre-hearing payments), which rose steadily through FY25 as the volume of summonses that city enforcement agencies filed with OATH grew sharply, topping one million for the first time. OATH reported summons filings then decreased in the early months of FY26, driving fewer pre-hearing resolutions; the FY26 figure here also reflects only part of the fiscal year, not a full 12 months.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Before 1979, city agencies conducted their own disciplinary and violation hearings using judges who were themselves employees of that same agency — a setup with an obvious conflict of interest. Mayor Ed Koch's Executive Order 32 in 1979 created the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings specifically to move those cases to a centralized team of independent Administrative Law Judges separate from the agencies referring the cases. In 1988, voters made OATH a permanent charter agency, establishing it as the first municipal central tribunal of its kind in the country.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia
How many appeals decisions were rendered?
1,294 decisions — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year and running behind pace
How many appeals decisions were rendered?
1,294 decisions — increasing overall; the FY26 figure is partial-year and running behind pace
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 2,088 decisions |
| FY23 | 2,042 decisions |
| FY24 | 2,711 decisions |
| FY25 | 2,074 decisions |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1,294 decisions |
| FY26 (projected) | ~1,725 decisions |
The FY26 figure for this indicator in the dataset is a partial-year, year-to-date total rather than a full fiscal year. OATH's own preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows appeals decisions running about 24 percent behind the same period a year earlier through the first four months of the fiscal year, so the full-year total will be higher than this partial figure suggests, though still likely below FY24's level.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Before 1979, city agencies conducted their own disciplinary and violation hearings using judges who were themselves employees of that same agency — a setup with an obvious conflict of interest. Mayor Ed Koch's Executive Order 32 in 1979 created the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings specifically to move those cases to a centralized team of independent Administrative Law Judges separate from the agencies referring the cases. In 1988, voters made OATH a permanent charter agency, establishing it as the first municipal central tribunal of its kind in the country.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia
How many days does it take to Judicial Hearings Officers to render decisions?
15 days — increasing, tracking a rise in hearing volume and decisions issued
How many days does it take to Judicial Hearings Officers to render decisions?
15 days — increasing, tracking a rise in hearing volume and decisions issued
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 10 days |
| FY23 | 9 days |
| FY24 | 12 days |
| FY25 | 11 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 15 days |
OATH's own reporting notes this figure fluctuates with hearing volume: decisions issued by Judicial Hearing Officers rose from about 200,000 in FY24 to over 216,000 in FY25 even as average decision time dipped slightly. The rise to 15 days reflected in the FY26 figure tracks a preliminary FY26 report showing decision times climbing from 10 to 14 days in the first four months of the fiscal year alongside a 12 percent increase in decisions issued.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Before 1979, city agencies conducted their own disciplinary and violation hearings using judges who were themselves employees of that same agency — a setup with an obvious conflict of interest. Mayor Ed Koch's Executive Order 32 in 1979 created the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings specifically to move those cases to a centralized team of independent Administrative Law Judges separate from the agencies referring the cases. In 1988, voters made OATH a permanent charter agency, establishing it as the first municipal central tribunal of its kind in the country.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia
What percent of participants who reported satisfaction with conflict resolution services?
98%
What percent of participants who reported satisfaction with conflict resolution services?
98%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | 97% |
| FY24 | 95% |
| FY25 | 96% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 98% |
98% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 2 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
The Center for Creative Conflict Resolution traces back to OATH's Center for Mediation Services, which began handling workplace mediation in 2003. Mayor de Blasio formally elevated it into the City's central dispute-resolution resource in 2021 through Executive Order 63, which also directed every city agency to designate a coordinator and incorporate restorative-justice principles into their own workplaces. The Center now serves city government, its employees and unions, and the public.
OATH - Conflict Resolution, Harlem World Magazine - Mayor de Blasio Signed Executive Order Establishing The Center for Creative Conflict Resolution
On average, how many days does it take after online request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.9 days — increasing, with wait times roughly doubling even as demand shifted channels
On average, how many days does it take after online request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.9 days — increasing, with wait times roughly doubling even as demand shifted channels
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | 0.4 days |
| FY24 | 0.4 days |
| FY25 | 0.8 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0.9 days |
OATH's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report confirms this indicator has been getting slower: the average wait for Help Center assistance after an online request roughly doubled year-over-year in the first four months of FY26, even as the Help Center saw a shift in demand toward its text and email/voicemail channels.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OATH runs Help Centers at every hearing location specifically for unrepresented respondents, staff who explain the charges against them, their legal rights, how to prepare for and appeal a hearing, and where to find outside legal resources. A separate Ombudsperson position exists to field complaints and push for fairness and transparency in how OATH reaches decisions, since the vast majority of people who appear before the tribunal represent themselves rather than hiring an attorney.
OATH - Frequently Asked Questions, OATH Hearings Division - What is OATH HD
On average, how many days does it take after text message request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.4 days
On average, how many days does it take after text message request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.4 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | Not available |
| FY25 | 0.3 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0.4 days |
0.4 days in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City.
Why this is tracked
OATH runs Help Centers at every hearing location specifically for unrepresented respondents, staff who explain the charges against them, their legal rights, how to prepare for and appeal a hearing, and where to find outside legal resources. A separate Ombudsperson position exists to field complaints and push for fairness and transparency in how OATH reaches decisions, since the vast majority of people who appear before the tribunal represent themselves rather than hiring an attorney.
OATH - Frequently Asked Questions, OATH Hearings Division - What is OATH HD
On average, how many days does it take after email/voicemail request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.9 days — wait times for this channel fell about 80% even as contact volume grew
On average, how many days does it take after email/voicemail request is made to initiate Help Center assistance?
0.9 days — wait times for this channel fell about 80% even as contact volume grew
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | Not available |
| FY23 | Not available |
| FY24 | Not available |
| FY25 | 1.8 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0.9 days |
OATH's preliminary Fiscal 2026 report shows this specific channel improved sharply: even as the number of people contacting the Help Center by email or voicemail grew 17 percent year-over-year, the average time to receive assistance after leaving an email or voicemail fell about 80 percent in the first four months of FY26 compared to the same period in FY25.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
OATH runs Help Centers at every hearing location specifically for unrepresented respondents, staff who explain the charges against them, their legal rights, how to prepare for and appeal a hearing, and where to find outside legal resources. A separate Ombudsperson position exists to field complaints and push for fairness and transparency in how OATH reaches decisions, since the vast majority of people who appear before the tribunal represent themselves rather than hiring an attorney.
OATH - Frequently Asked Questions, OATH Hearings Division - What is OATH HD
How many decisions were issued?
523,505 decisions — increasing; the FY26 figure is partial-year and already running ahead of FY25's pace
How many decisions were issued?
523,505 decisions — increasing; the FY26 figure is partial-year and already running ahead of FY25's pace
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above. The dashed marker projects a full-year estimate at the current year-to-date pace.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 415,130 decisions |
| FY23 | 492,246 decisions |
| FY24 | 592,716 decisions |
| FY25 | 678,578 decisions |
| FY26 (YTD) | 523,505 decisions |
| FY26 (projected) | ~698,007 decisions |
Decisions issued by OATH's Hearings Division grew steadily through FY25, tracking a sharp rise in summonses filed by city enforcement agencies, which topped one million in a single fiscal year for the first time. The lower FY26 figure in this dataset is a partial-year, year-to-date total rather than a full 12 months; OATH's preliminary FY26 report actually shows decisions issued running about 12 percent ahead of the same period a year earlier, so a full-year FY26 total would likely exceed FY25's, not fall short of it.
Researched July 16, 2026 — OATH, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, OATH, Preliminary Fiscal 2026 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
Before 1979, city agencies conducted their own disciplinary and violation hearings using judges who were themselves employees of that same agency — a setup with an obvious conflict of interest. Mayor Ed Koch's Executive Order 32 in 1979 created the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings specifically to move those cases to a centralized team of independent Administrative Law Judges separate from the agencies referring the cases. In 1988, voters made OATH a permanent charter agency, establishing it as the first municipal central tribunal of its kind in the country.
About OATH — nyc.gov, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings — Wikipedia