Rule 3.  Referral and Assignment of Cases.

Where an agency is given statutory authority to appoint an administrative law judge, to have its hearings conducted by an administrative law judge or in any way to refer a matter to an administrative law judge, the agency's action, or a party's action pursuant to statute or regulation, in filing pleadings with the OAC or in requesting a setting of any hearing dates by the OAC will be considered the appointment of or referral to an administrative law judge.  Administrative law judges will be assigned to cases by the Director of the OAC or by the designee of the Director.